MBBR/IFAS
- 1. System Overview
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The IFAS/MBBR technology is based on proprietary polyethylene biofilm carriers, which,
when added to a treatment basin, provide a large internal surface area for the growth of microorganisms
and offers flexible solutions to a multitude of biological process upgrade applications
such as nitrogen removal, treatment capacity increase and wastewater reuse.
Carrier size, geometry and specific internal surface area are critical features.
Our unique carriers have been designed with optimal performance in mind.
The upgrade to IFAS or MBBR often consists of simply adding carriers and screens to existing basins and can therefore be completed
in a cost-effective and timely manner without major civil engineering requirements and no requirement for additional land.
The carriers are kept suspended in the water by air from aerators in aerobic processes and by mixers in anoxic/anaerobic
reactors and can occupy up to 70% of the reactor volume on a bulk volume basis.
- 2. How IFAS and MBBR Works
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IFAS, the integrated fixed film activated sludge process incorporates the positive traits of two fundamental biological treatment processes,
namely fixed-film technology and suspended growth technology (conventional activated sludge), together into one hybrid system.
By combining high biomass quantities typical of IFAS fixed-film technologies with fluidization typical of a conventional
activated sludge (CAS), the technology achieves high removal rates in a small volume.
Conventional activated sludge bioreactors are generally retrofitted with the addition of IFAS carrier retaining
screens and modifications to the aeration grid to accommodate the addition of the IFAS bio-film carriers.
The media facilitates the growth of attached biomass and due to its size, is fluidized throughout the bioreactor.
In MBBR systems, all the biomass is supported on the biofilm carrier with no recycled activated sludge
and has benefits from the biofilm process stability where the activated sludge process is unstable.
Variations in parameters such as pH, temperature, toxicity etc will also affect the MBBR process
but it will recover much faster in comparison to activated sludge processes.
- 3. Applications
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· Capacity increase
· Quality Improvement ? BOD & Nitrogen Removal
· Fast recovery from Process Upsets
· Limited Footprint for new plants, especially those requiring a small footprint and easy operation,
· Future Expansion
· Minimize Process Complexity and Operator Attention
· As a high loading system in front of existing biological treatment - roughing reactor
· To increase the amount of nitrifying bacteria in existing activated sludge system in a hybrid plant to meet ammonia limits
· To implement post-treatment to existing plants for process improvements
- 4. Benefits
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· Economical very attractive
· Compact (saves space)
· Maintenance-friendly
· Can be installed in existing tanks
· Strong and High volume load
· Simply to extend
· Financial savings on discharge costs
