Membrane bioreactor technology is being used in the waste water treatment with increasing success for years. 

In the range of communal waste water technology the application was not previously used.

Basically the reasons have benn the relative high investment costs and the higher running costs compared to the classical waste water treatment; as well as the technology was only a little known. In the past, a high drainage quality reached with the application of the membrane technology was not required in the communal waste water treatment.

 

Facing theses facts, there are lots of considerable advantages as the low requirement of space and higher cleaning efficiendy in combination with optimal monitoring of the bioprocess (with extraordinarily good adapted micro organisms). Besides the drainage is free of any sludge and germs.

 

An important reason for a future increase of this technology is the decreasing of costs of the membranes. Furthermore the short supply of water will lead to force this application. Due to a higher acceptance of the membranes, the amount manufactured rises automatically and through the higher demand the industry is forced to drop the prices.

 

Within a framework of a study funded by the European Union, 300 industrial plants and over 100 communal membranetechnology plants (without test-projects) have been analysed on the european MBR market.

Moreover the sturdy prognosticates a steady annual growth of 50 industrial and 20 communal plants a year.

 

According to american sources an increase of 6.6 % is forecasted.

 

* Lesjean B., Huisjes E.H. Survey of european MBR market, trends and perspectives. Lecture, IWA 4th International Membrane Technologies Conference. Harrogate, UK.