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Solving Common MBBR Process Issues for Optimal Wastewater Treatment

Release Time:2025-06-20 

Solving Common MBBR Process Issues for Optimal Wastewater Treatment


In the wastewater treatment realm, the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) process stands out for its high efficiency and flexibility. However, during operation, frequent issues such as media clogging/agglomeration, media loss/overflow, and media accumulation in corners occur, severely hampering treatment efficiency. Here, we analyze the causes of these problems and offer targeted solutions.


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I. Media Clogging/Agglomeration


A. Causes


1.High Inlet Suspended Solids: When the concentration of suspended solids in the influent is excessive, impurities readily deposit on the surface and within the pores of the media. This accumulation obstructs the flow channels and disrupts the normal contact between microorganisms and pollutants.

2.Inappropriate Media Selection: Media with low porosity, an unreasonable specific surface area, or poor surface characteristics can lead to uneven biofilm growth. Localized over - growth of biofilms may then trigger clogging.

3.Insufficient Aeration: Inadequate aeration results in poor water flow mixing and insufficient oxygen supply. As a consequence, the metabolism of microorganisms slows down, and biofilms are unable to slough off in a timely manner, eventually leading to clogging.


B. Solutions


1.Enhance Pretreatment: Install pretreatment facilities like sedimentation tanks or dissolved air flotation units at the front - end of the MBBR process. These can effectively remove a large portion of suspended solids from the influent, reducing their impact on the media.

2.Upgrade Media: Select new - type media with high porosity and a reasonable specific surface area. For example, certain three - dimensional hollow - structured polyethylene or polypropylene media offer excellent porosity and can effectively prevent clogging.

3.Optimize Aeration: Install dissolved oxygen online monitors to adjust aeration in real - time. Adopt multi - point aeration or ring - shaped aeration to ensure uniform aeration, which promotes the dynamic balance of biofilms.


II. Media Loss/Overflow


A. Causes


1.Poor Effluent Weir Design: An improperly designed effluent weir, with issues such as excessive overflow rate or incorrect structure, can cause high water flow velocity. This strong flow can carry media out of the reactor.

2.Excessive Backwashing Intensity: During backwashing, if the flow rate is too high or the duration is too long, it can cause excessive scouring of the media, resulting in their loss.

3.Incompatible Media Density with Water Flow: If the density of the media differs significantly from that of water, the media may be easily carried away by the water flow under the impact of hydraulic forces.


B. Solutions


1.Modify Effluent Weir: Install an adjustable overflow weir and add a double - layer interception net at the effluent weir. The upper layer can intercept large - sized media, while the lower layer can capture smaller fragments.

2.Precisely Control Backwashing: Employ pulsed backwashing technology to control the backwashing flow rate and time accurately. Co - use air - water combined backwashing to improve cleaning efficiency while reducing media loss.

3.Choose Appropriate Media: Select media with a density close to that of water, such as PE - based media. After biofilm formation, their density becomes nearly the same as water, enabling stable suspension in the reactor and minimizing loss.

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III. Media Accumulation in Corners


A. Causes


1.Unstable Flow Pattern in the Reactor: An asymmetric reactor structure or improper influent and effluent layout can lead to uneven water flow distribution, creating dead zones where media tend to accumulate.

2.Uneven Aeration Distribution: Unevenly distributed aeration, such as large differences in the distance between aeration heads or significant variations in aeration intensity, can cause poor fluidization of media in some areas, resulting in accumulation.


B. Solutions


1.Optimize Aeration Layout: Combine ring - shaped aeration with bottom - diffused aeration. Adjust the distance between aeration heads to ensure uniform aeration and improve the fluidization of media throughout the reactor.

2.Install Stirring Devices: Add submersible agitators in the reactor to enhance water flow mixing, break up dead zones, and promote the uniform movement of media.

3.Adjust Water Flow Path: Set up guide plates to change the water flow direction. Ensure that the influent enters at an appropriate angle and that the effluent adopts multi - point overflow, strengthening the driving force of water flow on the media.


By addressing these common issues in the MBBR process, the operating efficiency and stability of wastewater treatment systems can be significantly improved. If you encounter any problems in practical applications or need professional process optimization solutions, please feel free to contact us. We are committed to providing you with one - stop technical support.