title: Moving bed biofilm reactor technology: process applications, design, and performance.
abstract: The moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) can operate as a 2- (anoxic) or 3-(aerobic) phase system with buoyant free-moving plastic biofilm carriers. These systems can be used for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, aquaculture, potable water denitrification, and, in roughing, secondary, tertiary, and sidestream applications. The system includes a submerged biofilm reactor and liquid-solids separation unit. The MBBR process benefits include the following: (1) capacity to meet treatment objectives similar to activated sludge systems with respect to carbon-oxidation and nitrogen removal, but requires a smaller tank volume than a clarifier-coupled activated sludge system; (2) biomass retention is clarifier-independent and solids loading to the liquid-solids separation unit is reduced significantly when compared with activated sludge systems; (3) the MBBR is a continuous-flow process that does not require a special operational cycle for biofilm thickness, L(F), control (e.g., biologically active filter backwashing); and (4) liquid-solids separation can be achieved with a variety of processes, including conventional and compact high-rate processes. Information related to system design is fragmented and poorly documented. This paper seeks to address this issue by summarizing state-of-the art MBBR design procedures and providing the reader with an overview of some commercially available systems and their components.
authors.affiliation: Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McQuarrie
authors.forename: Joshua P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boltz
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen