Development of a Compact MBBR STP for Efficient Domestic Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has led to the continuous and excessive discharge of hospital wastewater into the environment, posing serious risks to both human and wildlife. Domestic liquid wastewater contains various organic compounds that can degrade water quality, pose risks to human health, and disrupt biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. These pollutants significantly affect receiving water bodies, highlighting the importance of selecting effective treatment technologies to ensure the efficient removal of organic matter (OMs) from wastewater. Two common technologies used for the biological treatment of sewage are activated sludge and trickling filters. In contrast, the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) is a more recent advancement in wastewater treatment. The MBBR system integrates key features of both activated sludge and trickling filters, offering an efficient and innovative approach to wastewater treatment. The required tank volume for an MBBR system is generally much smaller compared to that of an activated sludge process or trickling filter designed to handle the same wastewater flow. The MBBR process consists of a submerged biofilm reactor coupled with a liquid–solids separation unit. Taking all relevant application parameters into account, an MBBR tank has been designed specifically for the treatment of domestic liquid wastewater.