Biological treatment and membrane bioreactor (MBR)

Biology, an effective, ecological and economical solution for industrial wastewater treatment.

Treat your effluents with the power of nature, benefiting from the properties of bacteria and other micro-organisms to abate organic and nitrogenous contaminants from your effluents and industrial water on site. Ovive, experts in biological treatment and membrane bioreactors, can help you manage your most complex effluent and reuse projects.

Biological treatment of industrial wastewater: an effective, environmentally-friendly solution

Aerobic treatment

First and foremost are aerobic treatments for industrial wastewater. These systems are based on the addition of air (oxygen) to the effluent reactor to be treated. This process is effective in reducing organic loads (BOD and COD) as well as nitrogenous loads, down to very low levels. Aerobic reactors can be combined with anaerobic or anoxic (low-oxygen) reactors to optimize operating conditions or take treatment further. Aerobic treatments are highly efficient and resilient in their operation.

Different aerobic treatment technologies can be implemented depending on the effluent and project conditions:

Activated sludge system
Membrane bioreactor (MBR)
Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)
Sequenced Bioreactor (SBR)

Anaerobic treatments

Then there are the anaerobic processes, which evolve in the absence of oxygen. The bacteria used in this process are highly efficient, particularly for treating effluent with a high concentration of biodegradable organic matter. During the anaerobic digestion process, the bacteria generate biogas that can be collected and valorized in an engine or boiler.

Advanced technologies and environmental benefits

Membrane bioreactor (MBR)

One type of process that is particularly well-suited to the needs of industry is the membrane bioreactor (MBR), a state-of-the-art technology that combines activated sludge biodegradation processes with ultrafiltration membrane filtration. Membrane filtration considerably increases the concentration of bacteria in the biological stage, thus limiting reaction volumes and the plant footprint. This process stands out for its biodegradation performance and low production of biological sludge.

Effectiveness of biological treatments

One of the main advantages of biological treatment of industrial wastewater is its efficiency. By taking advantage of the activity of micro-organisms to promote the degradation of organic pollutants, BRMs can eliminate up to 95% of the organic and nitrogenous pollution present in industrial effluents.

Depending on the characteristics of the effluent and the discharge standards to be met, a wide variety of finishing treatments can be added:

Activated carbon
Nanofiltration
Reverse osmosis
Specific adsorbents (arsenic, manganese, etc.)

The quality of the biological degradation and filtration of suspended solids ensures optimal operation of these finishing treatments.

Environmental benefits

These technical advantages are complemented by major environmental benefits. Biological treatment of industrial wastewater helps preserve the environment by minimizing the discharge of pollutants, while providing a solution for treating these pollutants. They also contribute to the circular economy by enabling the recovery of by-products (sludge) and the reuse of treated water.

Biological treatment of industrial wastewater: an ally of LWR

As part of the global drive to preserve the environment and manage resources responsibly, biological treatment of industrial wastewater has emerged as a major solution. It is a natural process using micro-organisms to eliminate or transform organic and nitrogenous pollutants present in wastewater.

Types of biological treatment

There are different types of biological treatment, depending on aerobic or anaerobic conditions, such as :

Activated sludge treatment
The membrane bioreactor (MBR)
Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)
Sequenced Bioreactor (SBR)
Anaerobic biodegradation
Lagooning

What they all have in common is the ultimate goal of purifying industrial effluent and reintegrating it into the water cycle, while complying with discharge standards. By turning to these natural technologies, the industrial sector can achieve REUT (reuse of treated wastewater) in an efficient and responsible way.

BRM and REUT

BRM is a technology that is particularly well suited to REUT. Here’s why:

Improved water quality: Membrane filtration considerably improves water quality, enabling it to be reused directly in industrial production processes, thus helping to preserve water resources.
Reducing health risks: Biological treatment reduces the health risks associated with the presence of organic pollutants and pathogenic micro-organisms in water from industrial activities.
Compact solution: As sludge concentrations in a BRM are higher than in conventional biologies, the solution is more compact and therefore more easily integrated into the industrial site.

How does Ovive support the biological treatment of industrial wastewater?

Expertise and Reputation

An expert in biological treatment for over two decades and with more than 100 references in BRM, Ovive is a reliable and reputable expert in the field of biological treatment of industrial wastewater.

With a committed and competent team, Ovive offers innovative solutions that meet the needs of its customers while integrating harmoniously into an increasingly demanding regulatory framework. The choice of treatment process is made in a rigorous and personalized manner, according to the nature of the wastewater to be treated, the capacity of the treatment plant, and the specific objectives of each customer.

Testing and Performance

Ovive offers laboratory or on-site trials to test treatment performance on your effluent in real-life situations. Our vision and experience as an operator integrate a high degree of customized automation into our equipment, as well as scalability built into the design to anticipate future variations in effluent quality and quantity as your production site evolves operationally.

Treatment Systems

Ovive offers a range of treatment systems that combine economy, efficiency and respect for the environment. Ovive’s highly qualified technical staff support customers at every stage of the project, from design to installation and commissioning of treatment equipment, right through to plant operation. We can also deploy comprehensive solutions, thanks to our mobile fleet available for hire, including compact BRM stations. This guarantees optimum system performance and long service life.

Choosing Ovive for the biological treatment of industrial wastewater also means benefiting from expert advice to explore the REUT potential of your industrial water, while guaranteeing compliance with imposed standards and continuous improvement of your environmental impact.

Case studies

SABAROT

Expanscience

Productos farmacéuticos Metanización

Croc’frais

Industria alimentaria Recuperación del compostaje

Délifrance

Panadería industrial Conversión a metanización

Copalis

Ingredientes marinos naturales BRM + REUT (agua de caldera)

Interspray

Cosméticos BRM + REUT

Carlos y Alicia

Fabricación de compota BRM + REUT

VEOLIA – Val’Pôle

Tratamiento de lixiviados Biorreactor de membrana

GUERLAIN

Cosméticos Experiencia en el antiguo proceso + nueva estación BRM

MELVITA

Cosméticos ecológicos Biorreactor de membrana

Canson

Fábrica de papel Pruebas de laboratorio + piloto de campo

Sofpo

Fabricación de cartón ondulado Biorreactor de membrana

EDF

Producción de energía Ultrafiltración

BOT FAO

Metanización BRM en digestato líquido

IDEX