The membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), an emerging technology for water and wastewater treatment, is based on pressurized membranes that supply a gaseous substrate to a biofilm formed on the membrane's exterior.  MBfR biofilms behave differently from conventional biofilms due to the counter-diffusion of substrates.  MBfRs are uniquely suited for a number of treatment applications, including the removal of carbon and nitrogen when oxygen is supplied, and reduction of oxidized contaminants when hydrogen is supplied. Major benefits include high gas utilization efficiency, low energy consumption, and small reactor footprints.  The first commercial MBfR was recently released, and its success may lead to the scale-up of other applications.  MBfR development still faces challenges, including biofilm management, the design of scalable reactor configurations, and the identification of cost-effective membranes.  This presentation will review past research, new developments, and challenges for MBfR development.

Membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) for wastewater treatment: Principles, applications, and recent developments

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.