NERENBERG RESEARCH GROUP
INTEGRATED
MEMBRANE BIOFILM REACTOR FOR TOTAL NITROGEN REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER
Funding: CICEET
Project duration: 9/2005 – 9/2008
PI: Robert
Nerenberg
Co-PI: Metcalf & Eddy
Students: Leon Downing, Kyle Bibby
Publications and
presentations:
Leon Downing and Robert Nerenberg (2007). Performance and microbial ecology of the hybrid
membrane biofilm process (HMBP) for concurrent nitrification and
denitrification of wastewater. Water Science and Technology 55:8-9:355-362
L. S. Downing and R. Nerenberg (2007). The Hybrid Membrane Biofilm Process (HMBP): A
Novel Approach to Achieving Biological Nitrogen Removal in Activated
Sludge. WEFTEC 2007. Accepted.
L. S. Downing, S. J. Green, R. Nerenberg (2007). Performance and microbial ecology of the
hybrid membrane biofilm process (HMBP) for concurrent nitrification and
denitrification of wastewater. 4th ASM
Conference on Biofilms. March 2007,
Leon Downing and Robert Nerenberg (2007). The Hybrid Membrane Biofilm Process (HMBP): A
Novel Technology for Upgrading Activated Sludge Plants to Achieve Biological
Nitrogen Removal IWA/WEF Nutrient Removal 2007: The State of the Art.
Leon Downing and Robert Nerenberg (2006). Concurrent Nitrification, Denitrification,
and BOD Removal in a Hybrid Membrane-Biofilm Reactor. IWEA Annual Conference.
Robert Nerenberg (2006).
Membrane Biofilm Reactors for Water and Wastewater Treatment. IWEA Annual Conference.
Leon Downing and Robert Nerenberg (2006). Microbial Ecology and Performance of the
Hybrid Membrane Biofilm Reactor (HMBP) for Concurrent Nitrification and
Denitrification. IWA Biofilm Systems VI,
Total nitrogen (TN) removal from wastewater
treatment is vital to maintaining the quality of our waterways. Our research develops an integrated
membrane-biofilm reactor (MBfR) for TN removal from wastewater.
The proposed MBfR is placed inside an activated sludge
tank, delivering oxygen to membrane-attached nitrifying bacteria. The hybrid (suspended and attached) growth
allows nitrification to occur without long SRTs. Additionally, with suppressed aeration from O2
diffusors, low bulk-liquid oxygen concentrations allow NO3-
to 
be consumed using BOD as an electron
donor. Thus, this system allows (1)
nitrification in systems with short SRTs, and (2) denitrification without an
exogenous electron donor.
Our research explores fundamental and practical aspects
for MBfR integration into an activated sludge basin. At the bench scale, we are using FISH, DGGE,
and microelectrode technology to explore process fundamentals and develop a
process model. Pilot-scale tests are
being carried out in collaboration with Metcalf & Eddy at
This approach can provide major savings in capital and operating costs. It also allows cost-effective TN removal in older plants, such as those of New York City (NYC), which have short SRTs and little room for plant expansions.