Mechanical Cleaning Process for Enhanced MBR-Performance

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment offer the advantages of superior effluent quality and a small footprint. The disadvantage is frequent membrane cleaning caused by membrane fouling that require higher labor and chemical demands when compared to conventional activated sludge process (CASP). The goal of this investigation was to operate MBR systems without chemicals, allowing a sustainable process at low costs. Microdyn-Nadir in cooperation with Darmstadt University has developed a unique non-chemical mechanical cleaning process (MCP).The MCP-process offers an operation of the MBR-Module with high flux rates up to 40 L/(m2·h) (23.6 gfd) continuous operation. For more than 20 months (test ongoing) no chemical cleanings have been performed. This process also allows for a significant flux increase of about 30 % in comparison to a standard MBR-application without MCP.