Project - Research Centre for design of the microbial communities in Membrane Bioreactors, Ecodesign MBR

Funded by the Danish Council of Strategic Research

Project start 2010. Expected completion 2017.

The Membrane-Bioreactor (MBR) technology is used in combination with biological treatment of wastewater and is widely used. The MBR technology is a very compact solution compared to conventional systems, and in addition, very high quality of effluent water is obtained with respect to micro pollutants and hygienic quality.
The Research Centre Ecodesign MBR focus on some of the remaining challenges that the MBR technology still face today. One problem is the incomplete understanding of the microbial community responsible for the conversion of phosphor, micro pollutants, and nitrogen. Moreover, knowledge on how to manipulate the microorganisms e.g. in terms of activity and growth is desired. The issues related to fouling of the membranes by chemical and microbiological origin are also of interest.

Project objectives
Overall, different topics will be investigated in order to obtain a better and more stable performance and the attention is on the microbiology involved in the conversion of phosphor, micro pollutants, nitrogen and in fouling. To accomplish this, detailed investigations on the identity, function and activity of the responsible microorganisms will be performed. The Centre has four main topics as listed below and Danish Technological Institute is primarily involved in work package 1 and 3.

• Removal/recovery of phosphorus
• Energy efficient nitrogen removal
• Detoxification of organic micropollutants
• Control of fouling

Participants

• Aalborg University
• DTU
• Danish Technological Institute
• DHI
• Alfa Laval
• Krüger
• Grundfos Biobooster
• Novozymes
• Veolia, Fr
• Delft University
• Vienna University
• Norges tekniske-naturvidenskabelige universitet, NTNU
• Udviklingssamarbejdet, Spildevandscenter Avedøre
• Aalborg Forsyning