From R&D to application: membrane bioreactor technology for water reclamation

PUB Singapore has been developing the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology for water reclamation. The MBR technology has significant versatility and can be applied for production of industrial water or combined with reverse osmosis to produce NEWater. The MBR technology offers greater opportunity for process intensification and further enhancement to achieve water sustainability. Compared to conventional treatment, MBR is a 3-in-1 solution that combines bioreactor, secondary sedimentation tank and microfiltration/ultrafiltration in one single step. The advantages of MBR include process robustness, superior filtrate quality and compact footprint. Progressing from pilot studies and demonstration testing, the MBR technology is currently implemented at full-scale in Jurong and Changi Water Reclamation Plant. Moving forward, PUB continues to embark on R&D in developing innovative MBR systems for future application that includes the forthcoming Tuas Water Reclamation Plant as part of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2 project. This manuscript provides an overview of R&D initiatives for developing the MBR technology for water reclamation spanning more than a decade at PUB.