MBR (Membrane Bioreactor)
MBR Solutions for Wastewater Treatment
In an effort to minimize their short and long-term environmental impact, industries across the globe are facing increasing challenges and costs in the treatment of their process wastewater.
As a result, many of these industries have built their own treatment systems in order to treat and reuse process streams, reducing discharge costs to municipal treatment plants and recovering valuable products from effluent.
MBRs are ideal for the treatment of wastewater streams with high concentrations of organics, solids, fat, oil, and grease. The membranes retain the biomass and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) within the bioreactor, thus producing effluent that is free of particles, bacteria and viruses.
MBRs remove between 96-99% of COD, compared to 95% in conventional activated sludge processes. MBRs can be operated at higher MLSS concentrations of up to 30 g/L with TSS < 1 mg and turbidity <0.2 NTU*. In addition, typical submerge systems can not operate at more than 10 – 12 g/L therefore tubular UF membranes solve this limitation.
Traditional wastewater treatment plants consist of pre-treatment systems to capture large floating particles and coarse suspensions (e.g. wood, textile, plastic and stones), followed by biological aerobic digestion that converts organic waste into carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas and water.
However, traditional submerged MBRs are highly susceptible to fouling, resulting in extensive maintenance requirements and lower flux rates.
*Membrane Biological Reactors Faisal I. Hai, Kazuo Yamamoto, Chung-Hak Lee

Berghof Membranes specializes in external MBRs that are positioned outside the bioreactor and utilize crossflow velocity to keep the membranes working at optimal conditions. Your benefits:
Less membrane fouling
Extended membrane life
High solid wastewater
Lower energy consumption
Stable performance
Ease-of-maintenance
No odor
Unlike outside-in filtration, as seen with submerged membrane technology, our robust tubular UF membranes enable operators to sustain higher flux rates with less frequent cleanings and reduced maintenance. Our tubular UF membranes are made from low-fouling PVDF, PES and chemical resistant polymers, and are available in various configurations and options to choose from.
Browse our project references and MBR presentations below to find out more.
Food & Beverage Industry
Holland Malt wants to extend the existing wastewater treatment capacity in Eemshaven.
Presentation | Food & Beverages Industy
Food & Beverage Industry
Holland Malt is renowned worldwide for the quality of its malt which serves breweries around the world.
Project Reference | Food & Beverages Industy
Tannery Industry
A company in India services the wastewater treatment needs of its 130+ member tanneries via a common effluent treatment plant (CETP).
Project Reference | Tannery Industry
Automotive Industry
A large truck manufacturer produces two wastewater streams: industrial wastewater containing oil, metals and common wastewater stream from the factory‘s employees.