Towards standardisation of the MBR technology?

Based on an extensive survey of the MBR industry, this article provides an overview of the market interests/ expectations and technical potential of going through a standardisation process of the submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology in Europe. Eighty representative companies and institutions active in all areas of the European MBR market were individually contacted with an extensive questionnaire, 45 of these companies actually contributed to this study, which demonstrated the interest of the industry in this initiative. There is a pronounced and specific interest in guidelines/standards on interchangeable filtration systems and membrane characterisation methods in MBRs. Benefits and drawbacks, opportunities and threats of MBR standards were defined and mapped. Technical factors in a standardisation process were identified and quantified. The outcomes and recommendations were discussed in a comprehensive White Paper on MBR standardisation. A workshop with 35 participants was organised with the Centre Européen de Normailisation (CEN) to present and discuss the results of this study. All attendants accepted the White Paper as a reference document to start a formal procedure of standardisation. This study is expected to pave the way for an appropriate consensus-based standardisation process of the MBR technology, which will therefore benefit the entire European MBR industry.

There is a pronounced and specific interest in guidelines/standards on the interchangeability of MBR filtration modules and membrane characterisation methods. Most market players expect standardisation will increase the willingness of decision makers to invest in MBR technology and will contribute to a growth of the municipal MBR market. A majority of the surveyed companies is convinced this is the right time to initiate a process of MBR module standardisation. Benefits and drawbacks, opportunities and threats of MBR standards were identified and mapped. Technical factors forming the possible subject in a standardisation process were identified and quantified (such as for example SAD of 0.1–0.3 and 0.4– 0.7 Nm3/h.m² for hollow fibres and flat sheet systems respectively). All results, outcomes and recommendations were published in an extensive White Paper. A preliminary reconnaissance workshop was organised to present and debate the results of this study to the MBR industry, and to discuss future actions. The large majority of participants to this workshop argue that this study can be used as a reference document to initiate a procedure of standardisation within the MBR industry. Upcoming actions like the redaction of a CEN Workshop Agreement were defined. The White Paper and preliminary workshop are expected to pave the way for an appropriate standardisation process of MBR technology, which will benefit the entire European MBR industry.