Modelling and process design of Moving Bed Bioreactor (MBBR) for wastewater treatment — A Review

Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, P.O. Botanic Garden, Howrah-711 103, West Bengal, India E-mail: supriyogoswami.ju@gmail.com, debabrata@civil.iiests.ac.in Manuscript received online 06 September 2018, accepted 10 September 2018 Moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) is an advanced technology for treating both municipal and industrial wastewater. The main operational principle of MBBR is based on bio-film reactor technology under moving state. The important component of this system is bio-carrier on which bio-film grows continuously throughout its entire surface under dynamic condition. Moving bed hybrid bioreactor (MBHBR) is one modification of MBBR, where suspended growth phase is also present due to hydraulic shear from the attached biomass. Mathematical modelling of MBBR process is extremely essential for its rational design in wastewater treatment. Very few research studies have been reported so far pertaining to model development for MBBR and its application in real life situation. The major drawback is that the bio-film under moving state integrated with suspended growth process makes the mathematical model very difficult and complex. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to develop a simplified mathematical model to understand the performance of MBBR/MBHBR more scientifically. The present paper reviews all the existing mathematical models, which have been developed so far on MBBR/MBHBR system. The criteria, applications and limitations of those models are compared in respect of various operational issues. The issue of process design has also been highlighted in the light of different models already developed for MBBR