10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
MBR system vs MBBR
reactor
At Sigmadaf we supply both membrane biological reactors (MBR) and
moving bed biological reactors (MBBR) for wastewater treatment and
reuse. Both are supplied in a compact format, fully assembled and
ready to operate. The main similarities and differences between the
two technologies are detailed below.
Request a quote
Download catalog
MBR systems
Privacy - Terms
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 1/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
Membrane biological reactors, also known as MBR systems, are a
wastewater treatment technology that combines the biodegradation
of microorganisms with membrane filtration to separate solids and
liquids.
MBR systems include ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes to
separate contaminants present in the treated water. MBR systems are
a compact and easy to operate technology, offering high performance
for contaminant separation.
The following table shows the general operating conditions. The
pollutant removal efficiency is very high and the treated water has a
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 2/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
constant quality.
PERFORMANCE
PARAMETER ENTRANCE EXIT AVERAGE
ELIMINATION
COD (mg/L) <600 <90 85%
BOD (mg/L) <300 <30 90%
TSS (mg/L) <300 <40 87%
TSK (mg/L) <40 <16 60%
Escherichia coli
90 - 100%
(CFU/100 mL)
Nematodes 90 - 100%
Escherichia coli
90 - 100%
(CFU/100 mL)
Virus 60 - 90%
Oils and Fats
<50 <1 98%
(mg/L)
Visit our page dedicated to MBR systems to access all the information
about our equipment.
MBBR reactors
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 3/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
MBBR reactors, or biofilm moving bed reactors, are another
technology widely used in wastewater treatment. MBBR reactors use a
moving bed of support material, such as plastic or ceramic, to grow
microorganisms that biodegrade contaminants in the treated water.
MBBR reactors are also easy to operate and provide high pollutant
separation efficiency. The following table shows the general operating
conditions. The pollutant removal efficiency is optimal and the treated
water is of consistent quality. The pollutant removal efficiency is very
high and the treated water has a constant quality.
PARAMETER ENTRANCE EXIT PERFORMANCE
COD (mg/L) <600 <90 85%
BOD (mg/L) <300 <30 90%
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 4/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
PARAMETER ENTRANCE EXIT PERFORMANCE
TSS (mg/L) <300 <40 87%
TSK (mg/L) <40 <16 60%
Visit our page dedicated to MBBR reactors to access all the
information about our equipment.
Comparison of SIGMA MBR and MBBR
systems
COMPACT SMBR COMPACT SMBBR
Advanced Carriers for
DISTINCTIVE
Ultrafiltration biomass growth
TECHNOLOGY
membranes. support
BIOMASS 6 000 - 12 000 4 000 - 8 000
CONCENTRATION mg/L MLSS MLSS
Kubota
Two aerobic
Ultrafiltration
chambers. Specific
membranes.
biomass carriers in
ELEMENTS Microbubble
each chamber.
diffusers. Anoxic
Microbubble
- aerobic
diffusers.
chamber.
CONCENTRATION DQO <40 ppm; DQO <90 ppm;
OF POLLUTANTS DBO5 <10 ppm; DBO5 <30 ppm;
IN THE SST <2 ppm; NTK SST <40ppm; NTK
DISCHARGE <10 ppm; E. coli <16 ppm.
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 5/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
COMPACT SMBR COMPACT SMBBR
90 – 100%
eliminación;
Nematodos 90 –
100% eliminación;
Legionella spp. 90
– 100%
eliminación; Virus
60 – 90%
eliminación;
Aceites y grasas
<50 ppm.
HYDRAULIC
50 - 150 m3/day. 250 - 650 m3/day.
CAPACITY
Industrial and
municipal waters,
military camps,
Industrial and mining and
municipal waters, humanitarian
military camps, missions, hotels
mining and and resorts,
humanitarian hospitals, shopping
APPLICATIONS missions, hotels malls, universities,
and resorts, fairgrounds, etc.
hospitals, When space
shopping centers, requirements are
universities, very limited and
fairgrounds, etc. maximum
simplicity of
operation is
demanded.
MAIN Compact, Reduced space
ADVANTAGES modular, requirements, no
Plug&Play, high purging or
performance due recirculation,
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 6/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
COMPACT SMBR COMPACT SMBBR
to high MLSS, elimination of
constant effluent bulking problems,
quality, minimal withstands peak
excess sludge loads and flow
generation, high variations,
loading volumes, simplicity of
high resistance to operation and
toxic and control.
oxidizing agents,
simple operation,
PLC control.
Similarities and important differences
between an MBR system and an MBBR
reactor
Both technologies have several points in common, among which the
following stand out:
Both technologies use biological processes to treat wastewater,
which means that they use microorganisms to biodegrade
pollutants.
Both MBR systems and MBBR reactors are highly effective in
removing contaminants and can produce a high quality effluent.
These machines have a small footprint compared to other water
treatment technologies, so they can be easily installed in locations
where there is not a large free area to locate the wastewater
treatment plant.
Both MBR systems and MBBR reactors can be operated
autonomously and automated, reducing the need for manpower.
On the other hand, they are also two technologies with differentiated
characteristics, among which the following stand out:
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 7/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
MBR systems use ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes to
separate solids and liquids, while MBBR reactors use a moving bed
of support material to grow microorganisms.
MBR systems can remove smaller particles than MBBR reactors,
which means they are more effective in removing specific
contaminants, such as viruses or bacteria.
MBR systems require higher power consumption for operation.
This is mainly due to the need to maintain membrane pressure.
Another factor that makes MBR systems more expensive to
operate and maintain is that the membranes require regular
maintenance to ensure their performance.
MBBR reactors may be less effective in high load applications,
while MBR systems are suitable for high load applications.
Factors to consider in the selection
between an MBR system and an MBBR
reactor
There is a wide variety of factors that influence the design of a
wastewater treatment plant and the selection of the technologies that
will be part of it. That is why it is important to analyze the specific
characteristics of each case, as well as the needs and objectives set by
the client.
In the design of a water treatment plant we may be faced with the
need to decide between an MBR system or an MBBR reactor. Although
the choice of one or the other technology depends on the specific
needs of the project and there is no formula that can be applied in a
generalized way, there are a series of conditions that are usually
fulfilled in most cases:
Desired quality of treated water: MBR systems produce a higher
quality treated water due to their ability to remove smaller
particles. The treated water can be reused in production processes
and in other applications such as washing, irrigation, sanitation,
etc.
Wastewater composition: Wastewater composition refers to what
types of contaminants are to be treated and how much of them
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 8/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
are present in the wastewater effluent. MBR systems offer greater
versatility in the variety of contaminants they can treat. MBBR
reactors may offer better performance in wastewater that is not
highly complex and requires simple operations, such as COD or
BOD reduction.
Wastewater volume: MBBR reactors have a higher hydraulic
capacity and can treat a greater amount of cubic meters per day.
Installation and operating costs: Design, construction, operation
and maintenance costs are important factors in the choice of a
wastewater treatment system. An MBBR reactor generally has
higher design and construction costs, but has lower operation and
maintenance costs. An MBR system has higher operation and
maintenance costs due to the presence of membranes, which
require higher energy consumption to maintain the required
pressure and higher maintenance investment due to periodic
cleaning and replacement.
Environmental conditions: Local environmental conditions, such
as temperature, humidity and the presence of chemicals, can also
influence the choice of system.
Are you interested in this solution?
Name and surname
Company
E-mail address
Contact telephone number
Spain
Your inquiry
I have read and accept the Legal Notice and Privacy Policy of this website.
I give my consent to SIGMADAF Clarifiers to send me commercial news
and/or new promotions of its products and services.
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 9/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
Send
Subscribe to the newsletter
Email
I have read and accept the Legal Notice and Privacy Policy of this website.
Send
A company of:
Member of:
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 10/11
10/18/23, 1:16 PM MBR system vs MBBR reactor - Sigmadaf
[email protected]
+34 972 22 34 81
© 2022 - SIGMADAF. Legal Notice - Privacy Policy
https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/sistema-mbr-vs-reactor-mbbr/ 11/11
