MBBR Materials: Evolution, Current State, and Comparison

By: Kate Chen
Email: [email protected]
Date: Mar 30th, 2023

What is MBBR Media

MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) technology has become increasingly popular in recent years for the treatment of wastewater, both in industrial and municipal applications. The MBBR process is a type of aerobic treatment that uses a biofilm carrier medium to provide a surface for the growth of microorganisms that degrade organic matter in wastewater.

The biofilm carrier medium is a crucial component of the MBBR system, as it provides a large surface area for the microorganisms to grow on, which allows for a high level of treatment efficiency in a compact system. The choice of biofilm carrier material can have a significant impact on the performance, cost, and maintenance requirements of the MBBR system.

MBBR Materials Evolution

The earliest MBBR systems used natural materials, such as wood chips, gravel, or sand, as the biofilm carrier medium. These materials were readily available and relatively inexpensive, but they had several disadvantages, including low specific surface area, which limited treatment efficiency, and irregular shapes that led to uneven distribution of the biofilm.

As MBBR technology advanced, various types of plastic materials were developed for use as biofilm carriers. The first plastic media were made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and were shaped like cylinders or balls. These materials had a higher specific surface area than natural materials and allowed for more uniform distribution of the biofilm, improving treatment efficiency. However, PVC materials were not particularly durable, and their use in wastewater treatment was limited due to the risk of leaching harmful chemicals into the water.

The next generation of MBBR materials was made from PE (polyethylene), which is a type of plastic that is more durable and resistant to chemical corrosion than PVC. PE media had a higher specific surface area than PVC, and their use in MBBR systems became more widespread. However, PE materials were still susceptible to degradation over time due to exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors.

Recently, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) has become the preferred material for MBBR media. HDPE is a type of plastic that is more durable, resistant to chemical corrosion and has a higher specific surface area than other plastic materials. HDPE media can be made in various shapes and sizes, allowing for greater flexibility in MBBR system design. The use of virgin HDPE ensures the purity and quality of the material, making it safe and suitable for use in wastewater treatment.

MBBR Materials Comparison

There are several types of MBBR materials available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of MBBR materials are plastic, ceramic, and metal.

Plastic MBBR Material

Plastic media are the most widely used type of MBBR material due to their low cost, ease of handling and installation, and resistance to most chemicals and environmental conditions. Plastic media are also lightweight, making them easy to transport and install. Plastic media have a high specific surface area, providing excellent treatment efficiency. However, plastic media have limited durability compared to other materials and may require frequent replacement.

Ceramic MBBR Material

Ceramic media have a higher specific surface area than plastic materials and can withstand high temperatures and pressures. Ceramic media are durable and long-lasting, and their resistance to chemical corrosion makes them an ideal choice for harsh wastewater environments. However, ceramic media are more expensive than plastic materials and are fragile, making them difficult to transport and install.

Metal MBBR Material

Metal media are the most durable and strong type of MBBR material, able to withstand extreme conditions and resist corrosion and abrasion. Metal media are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance. However, metal media are the most expensive type of MBBR material and are heavy and difficult to transport and install.

Our Company: Hangzhou NIHAO Environmental Tech Co., Ltd.

Nihao is a leading manufacturer of HDPE MBBR media for wastewater treatment. Our products are made from 100% virgin HDPE, ensuring the purity and quality of the material. Our MBBR media have a high specific surface area, providing excellent treatment efficiency, and are available in various shapes and sizes to suit different MBBR system designs.

Nihao MBBR media are durable and long-lasting, requiring minimal maintenance and reducing the overall cost of the MBBR system. Our media are resistant to chemical corrosion and environmental degradation, making them ideal for use in harsh wastewater treatment environments.

Factory Guarantee Healthy 100% Virgin HDPE

At Nihao, we use only 100% virgin HDPE material in the production of our MBBR media. This ensures that our products are free from any contaminants or impurities that may affect their performance or safety. We do not use recycled or reprocessed HDPE material, as these may contain harmful chemicals or contaminants that could compromise the quality of our products.

Our virgin HDPE material is also FDA-approved for use in food contact applications, ensuring that our products are safe for use in wastewater treatment applications where the treated water may be reused for irrigation or other purposes.

Advantages of Factory Guarantee Healthy 100% Virgin HDPE

The use of factory guarantees healthy 100% virgin HDPE in our MBBR media offers several advantages over other types of materials. These include:

● Durability:

Our virgin HDPE material is more durable and resistant to environmental factors than other plastic materials, ensuring long-lasting performance and reduced maintenance requirements.

● Chemical Resistance:

HDPE is highly resistant to chemical corrosion, making it ideal for use in harsh wastewater treatment environments.

● Purity:

Our virgin HDPE material is free from contaminants and impurities, ensuring the safety and quality of our products.

● High-Specific Surface Area:

Our HDPE media have a high specific surface area, providing excellent treatment efficiency and reducing the overall footprint of the MBBR system.

Conclusion

MBBR technology has revolutionized wastewater treatment, providing a cost-effective and efficient way to treat wastewater in a compact system. The choice of biofilm carrier material is critical to the performance and cost of the MBBR system, with HDPE emerging as the preferred material due to its durability, chemical resistance, and high specific surface area.

At Nihao, we are committed to providing high-quality, durable, and efficient MBBR media made from 100% virgin HDPE material. Our products offer superior performance and reduced maintenance requirements, ensuring that our customers achieve the highest level of wastewater treatment efficiency and sustainability.