Fluence offers MABR treatment in both containerized Aspiral™ containerized plants and as SUBRE towers that can be used to upgrade existing wastewater treatment plants or in greenfield installations.
Membrane aerated biofilm reactor technology is a proven wastewater treatment process that offers high nutrient removal and energy savings
The wastewater treatment landscape is witnessing a paradigm shift toward technologies that offer flexibility, adaptability, and environmental stewardship. Among these solutions, membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) technology stands out for its proven ability to provide highly effective wastewater treatment with reduced energy consumption.
MABR technology offers a versatile solution that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of configurations to meet diverse needs. Fluence’s MABR systems are making waves worldwide, with systems that cater to small communities of several thousand people with a capacity of 264,000 GPD (1,000 m3/d), to mid-scale installations that can handle up to 7 million GPD (26,500 m3/d), or about 270,000 people.
At the heart of MABR’s appeal lies its energy-efficiency and its ability to achieve high-quality effluent with a small footprint.
High Nitrogen Removal
A typical MABR-based system follows a single-pass process design, incorporating both MABR and nitrifying-denitrifying suspended growth-activated sludge. In this configuration, mixed liquor is introduced under anoxic conditions, facilitating the removal of most of the TN and some biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Subsequently, the mixed liquor is aerated at low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels to further polish the residual BOD and ammonia, resulting in high-quality effluent.
One of the key features of MABR technology is its capacity for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, which enables efficient removal of total nitrogen (TN) from wastewater streams. Its high nutrient removal capabilities make MABR technology a good solution for wastewater that has to meet stringent effluent regulatory standards, or in situations where there is interest in reusing the wastewater for nonpotable applications. Clients have used Fluence’s proprietary MABR technology to treat wastewater and reuse it for landscaping, irrigation, pond recharge, and more. With additional disinfection, the wastewater can even be brought to drinking level quality.
Fluence’s Aspiral™ membrane bioreactor efficiently treats wastewater for reuse.
Low Energy Consumption
Conventional activated-sludge treatment processes usually require a significant amount of energy for aeration. On the other hand, MABR membranes passively diffuse oxygen and maintain low DO levels in aerobic chambers, to achieve significant energy savings without compromising on treatment efficacy. This results in energy savings of up to 60% during the biological treatment process compared to activated sludge treatment with other aeration methods. MABR’s energy-efficient approach not only reduces operational costs, but also mitigates the environmental footprint of wastewater treatment facilities.
Small Footprint
Traditional wastewater treatment facilities need to have two separate tanks for nitrification and denitrification, since nitrification needs aerobic conditions and denitrification needs anoxic conditions. Fluence’s MABR enables both processes to occur within the same basin. Within the membrane, aerobic conditions are maintained, allowing the nitrification to thrive, which converts ammonia (NH₃) intro nitrate (NO₃). In the surrounding bulk fluid, anoxic conditions allow the nitrate (NO₃) to be converted into nitrogen gas (N₂). This small footprint allows MABR to make a significant impact without taking up a lot of space. This is why MABR is a good fit for anyone who wants to set up new treatment plants or upgrade existing plants without consuming a lot of real estate.
Aspiral’s compact design allows for easy installation in even the most challenging spaces.
MABR containerized plants, Retrofits, and Full-Scale Plants
MABR technology offers a potent combination of energy efficiency, high effluent quality, and environmental sustainability.
Fluence is a leading provider of MABR technology worldwide. The success of Fluence’s proprietary MABR technology is clear, with more than 350 installations worldwide demonstrating consistently high effluent quality and robust performance. Fluence’s MABR systems offer municipalities and remote communities a reliable decentralized wastewater treatment solution for meeting stringent environmental regulations: Plants produce effluent with TN levels below 10 mg/L and ammonia removal exceeding 97%.
Fluence’s MABR products include AspiralTM containerized plants for decentralized treatment, SUBRE retrofits to increase the capacity and effluent quality of existing plants, as well as SUBRE greenfield plants. Contact our experts to learn more about our MABR products.
