The current MBR market has been estimated to value around US$216 million in 2006 and to rise to US$363 million by 2010. As a result, the MBR process has now become an attractive option for the treatment and reuse of industrial and municipal wastewaters, as evidenced by their constantly rising numbers and capacity. Recent technical innovation and significant membrane cost reduction have enabled MBRs to become an established process option to treat wastewaters.
Schematic of conventional activated sludge process (top) and external (sidestream) membrane bioreactor (bottom) Depending on the type of membrane it is possible to get better pollutant retention. In case of the water purification or regeneration, the aim is for the water to flow through the membrane, retaining undesirable species on the other side. The water resource scarcity implies the need to reuse water, once it has been properly treated, thus guaranteeing environmental protection.Īmong the treatment technologies available to regenerate wastewater, those that use membranes stand out for their capacity to retain solids, salts and even disinfect water, producing water suitable for reuse in irrigation and other applications.Ī membrane is a material that allows the selective flow of certain substances. 2 History and basic operating parameters.