Performance of a full-scale membrane bioreactor Technology for hostel wastewater treatment for reuse purposes

Membrane Bio Reactor (MBR) system, designed to achieve high-quality effluent within a small overall footprint. The MBR process utilizes the well-proven activated sludge process but replaces conventional final settlement with an ultrafine membrane which effectively filters the final effluent. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) can be broadly defined as systems integrating biological degradation of waste products with membrane filtration. They have proven quite effective in removing organic and inorganic contaminants as well as biological entities from wastewater. Advantages of the MBR include good control of biological activity, high-quality effluent free of bacteria and pathogens, smaller plant size, and higher organic load rates. The quality of the MBR permeates for hostel wastewater conforms largely to the microbiological standards for reusable (e.g. flushing, cleaning, and agricultural use). This study was undertaken to determine the efficiency of the MBR treatment plant in terms of its physical, chemical and biological characteristics of influent and effluent wastewater. The removal efficiencies of the treatment plant (Turbidity>99%, TSS>98%, BOD>96%, COD>93% and MPN>99%) are very high compared to another treatment plant. Membrane technology is the most important method in achieving the objective of the reuse of wastewater in an era of water scarcity in many parts of the world.