The UFO-MBR – a Potable, Indirect Potable, and Nutrient Recovery Technology

The implementation of potable reuse will require treatment processes with multiple barriers to prevent microbial, nutrients, and other contaminants of concern from compromising public health. The osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) is a multiple barrier that is comprised of three treatment barriers: biological treatment for carbon and nutrient removal, forward osmosis for suspended and dissolved solids separation, and reverse osmosis for brine concentration and high quality potable water production.In the current long-term study, the novel ultrafiltration OMBR (UFO-MBR) is being used to treat municipal wastewater produced by a small community where the wastewater carbon and nutrient are removed in two biological treatment stages. The COD, total nitrogen, and TP levels form the wastewater influent to RO permeate have been greater than 98%, 90%, and 99% for each constituent, respectively. The UFO-MBR has exhibited the potential to be an effective dual-purpose water reuse and nutrient recovery technology.