LF logo
by learnformula
search
Log in
search
Courses/Engineering/Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

Biological Wastewater Treatment – MBR Processes

The MBR process uses an aeration tank similar to those used in conventional activated sludge processes, combined with membrane filtration as a replacement for secondary sedimentation.

Created byHarlan Bengtson, PhD, PE
4.9
(31 reviews)
BeginnerUpdated Dec 29, 2024
Biological Wastewater Treatment – MBR Processes

What You'll Learn

check_circleUnderstand the components, configuration, and operation of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment process.
check_circleLearn the advantages, disadvantages, and pretreatment requirements of MBR systems compared to conventional activated sludge processes.
check_circleGain proficiency in performing process design calculations for MBR systems, including membrane area, aeration tank volume, and scouring airflow rate.
check_circleExplore design calculations for BOD removal/nitrification and Pre-Anoxic Denitrification MBR processes, including tank volumes, air/oxygen requirements, and sludge wasting rates.

About This Course

The MBR (membrane bioreactor) process uses an aeration tank similar to those used in conventional activated sludge processes, combined with membrane filtration as a replacement for secondary sedimentation. This combination can produce a very high-quality effluent, typically with a more compact reactor than conventional activated sludge, but requires a higher rate of aeration than conventional activated sludge in order to keep the membranes from fouling. The current typical MBR process configuration uses a membrane module submerged in the aeration tank. This course includes a discussion of process design calculations for the membrane module used in an MBR system, for an MBR aeration tank designed to provide BOD removal and nitrification, and for a pre-anoxic tank to go with an MBR BOD removal and nitrification system.

Topics: At the conclusion of this course, the student will: Be familiar with the components of and general configuration of an MBR wastewater treatment process Know the advantages and disadvantages of an MBR wastewater treatment process in comparison with a conventional activated sludge process Know the type of pretreatment typically required for an MBR wastewater treatment process Be able to carry out process design calculations to determine the required membrane area, membrane module volume and scouring air flow rate for an MBR wastewater treatment system Be able to carry out process design calculations for a BOD removal/nitrification MBR process in order to determine the required aeration tank volume, sludge wasting rate, air flow rate, and alkalinity addition Be able to carry out process design calculations for a Pre-Anoxic Denitrification MBR process in order to determine the required pre-anoxic tank volume, the reduced oxygen/air requirement, the reduced alkalinity requirement, the anoxic tank mixing power needed, and the sludge wasting rate.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for civil engineers, environmental engineers, and chemical engineers. After completing this course you will be familiar with the general components and configuration of an MBR wastewater treatment process and be able to make typical process design calculations for an MBR process. 

Publication Source: Based on original courseware, written by Harlan Bengtson, PhD, PE

Your Instructor

Harlan Bengtson, PhD, PE
Harlan Bengtson, PhD, PE
menu_book73 courses
star2,706 reviews

Dr. Harlan Bengtson is an online PDH course provider of continuing education courses for professional engineers. Dr. Bengtson is a graduate of Iowa State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees and of the University of Colorado with a PhD. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri. Dr. Bengtson has spent 30 years in engineering education in teaching and administrative positions, including six years as Dean of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Dr. Harlan H. Bengtson, PE 33 Grainey Drive Glen Carbon, IL 62034 Phone: (618) 406-6892 E-mail: hnkbengtson@yahoo.com PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Dr. Bengtson is a graduate of Iowa State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees and of the University of Colorado with a PhD. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri. He has spent 30 years in engineering education in teaching and administrative positions, including six years as Dean of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His areas of expertise are environmental engineering, hydrology and hydraulics, engineering science and renewable energy systems. He has done regular consulting work while holding the academic positions. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Bengtson worked for Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing as a Product Development Engineer and for E. I. duPont deNemours as a Process Development Engineer. Dr. Bengtson has authored numerous publications, presentations and technical reports. He is currently active as a freelance technical writer, author of continuing education courses for Professional Engineers, and is the founder of www.engineeringexceltemplates.com and www.EngineeringExcelSpreadsheets.com, sites with the objective of providing inexpensive, easy to use Excel spreadsheets for a variety of engineering calculations.

Credit Information

Do these courses count toward my professional development requirements?

This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.

If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.

What Students Are Saying

4.9
Student's Choice
31 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.