MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor)

The main characteristic of Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR) configurations is that there is no sludge recycle from a secondary clarifier. MBBR is essentially a simple, once-through process, where all of the biological activity takes place on the biomass carriers. MBBR is usually followed by a solids separation system such as a secondary clarifier or DAF, in order to separate bio-solids produced in the process from the final effluent.

The main advantage of MBBR is robust and simple reduction of soluble pollutants (soluble BOD or COD, NH4+, etc.), with minimal process complexity, utilizing a significantly smaller footprint when compared to conventional aerobic treatment methods.

MBBR is typically used for either high load industrial applications or for robust simple-to-operate municipal facilities.

IFAS (Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge)

The Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge (IFAS) process combines the advantages of conventional activated sludge with those of biofilm systems by combining the two technologies in a single reactor. Biomass carriers introduced into carefully selected zones within the activated sludge process. This allows two distinct biological populations to act synergistically, with the MLSS degrading most of the organic load (BOD), and the biofilm creating a strongly nitrifying population for oxidation of the nitrogenous load (NH4+).

IFAS is typically used to upgrade existing plants in order to enable extensive Nitrogen removal, or in designing new plants with significantly smaller footprints for extensive BOD and Nitrogen removal.