Name

Process intensification with low apparent sludge age at Monkmoor STW using Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor

Speakers

Josep Manzano

Authors

Josep Manzano, OxyMem, Spain
Barry Heffernan, OxyMem, Ireland
Emma Paterson-Stephens, Mott MacDonald Bentley, UK
Craig Latham, Severn Trent Water, UK

Description

The installation of 48 OxyMem™ Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) modules at Monkmoor Sewage Treatment Works (STW) in Shrewsbury demonstrated the ability of the MABR system to seamlessly retrofit an existing treatment plant to provide process intensification and in this case to manage increased flows and loads associated with population increase. 

A target removal of 162 kg of ammonia-nitrogen (N-NH3) per day was set for the MABR system, when installed in the anoxic zones. To achieve this, 48 OxyMem™ MABR units were installed in April 2024. At the time of installation, the Monkmoor MABR IFAS system was the largest MABR system in the UK and can be considered the first large-scale commercial installation within the UK.   The MABR system achieved ammonia removal rates of 243 kgN/d which is a nitrification rate of 3.4 gN/m2.d and increased the nitrifier aerobic sludge age from 8.8 days to 10.7 days enabling effluent ammonia-N concentrations below 1 mg/L even in cold weather.

This installation demonstrates that municipalities can quickly increase their nitrification capacity in a matter of weeks with modular drop-in MABR units and can serve as an example for other facilities with capacity challenges. This presentation would focus on the technical results.

 

Time

12:15 PM - 12:40 PM

Location Name

Room 2

Track

11:50 - 14:55 Process Intensification