Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) for Decentralized  Grey Water Treatment: Technical, Ecological and Cost  Efficiency Comparison for Domestic Applications

Naeema Al Hosani; Eihab Fathelrahman; Hamza Ahmed; Elfatih Rikab

doi:10.9755/ejfa.2022.v34.i7.2848

Authors

Naeema Al Hosani Department of Geography and Urban Sustainability, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE P.O. Box 15551,
Eihab Fathelrahman Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE, POBOX 15551
Hamza Ahmed Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Engineering Building 202, 6029 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. 80523-6029,
Elfatih Rikab Landmark Landscaping, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box 25030

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2022.v34.i7.2848

Abstract

The reuse of greywater has several advantages, including reduced freshwater extraction from rivers, aquifers, and groundwater; reduced
need for desalination; less environmental impact from septic tanks and water treatment plants; decreased energy consumption; and reduced
chemical pollution. The main objectives of this review study are to assess the technical attributes, ecological impacts, and cost-efficiency
of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) water treatment technology compared to similar available technology for small to medium-sized,
decentralized applications in residential and commercial settings such as home gardening, sanitation, and landfills. Previous studies
indicate that hybrid technologies such as MBBR are the most promising methods for the total removal of contaminants in wastewater in a
decentralized setting. However, the initial capital cost of this technology for small and medium-scale domestic applications worldwide is
high and so is a limiting factor in the expansion of its utilization. Expansion of domestic use of such Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Systems (DWTS) could increase the economies of scale and therefore reduce the initial capital costs for this useful water treatment. For
the MBBR system, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency was found to be 70%, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal
was found to be 97%, and turbidity removal was 98%