Traditional wastewater systems employ gravity in a settling chamber, or “clarifier,” to separate solids from liquids. While clarifiers may appear straightforward at first glance, they present several operational challenges when seeking superior solids separation. During peak flow periods or when biological processes are disrupted, clarifiers often struggle to maintain optimal solids separation. In such cases, expensive coagulant chemicals may be added to facilitate floc formation and enhance settling. Additionally, scum formation on the surface due to bulking sludge and floating grease particles is a common issue. Projects requiring high-quality effluent downstream of clarifiers often employ tertiary sand or other media filtration systems to further reduce suspended solids.
Upgrading to MBR technology utilizing ultrafiltration (UF) membranes for liquid/solids separation addresses all the limitations of gravity separation. Peak flows do not result in increased effluent total suspended solids (TSS), settling aids are unnecessary, and bulking sludge or filamentous organisms have minimal impact on membrane performance. Moreover, MBR technology provides effluent separation, filtration, re-aeration, and complete bacterial reduction, including two to four logs of virus reduction, resulting in complete effluent sterilization within a single separation process.
The escalating demands for cleaner water, water reuse, and more efficient and sustainable systems will continue to drive a transition towards MBR technology with UF membranes over gravity separation with conventional filtration.
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