Feasibility Study of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) Technology at Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nepal

<p>Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology is applicable for removing organic components and nitrogen from wastewater in the Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant (GWWTP). A lab-scale single-staged aerobic batch MBBR (16L pure volume, 5L active working volume) was designed and initiated using synthetic and municipal wastewater in two phases. Removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, NH4-N, and PO43- were investigated at various retention times (0-72h) for municipal wastewater treatment with and without media. Physical parameters (pH, DO, temperature, and conductivity) were monitored under ambient conditions. Both treatments demonstrated similar BOD removals (89.68% and 88.97%) at 72h, with the treatment using media exhibiting higher COD removal (96.84%). Ammonia-nitrogen removal was completed at 20h for the treatment without media and 99.20% at 24h for the treatment with media. Phosphate removal was significant (92.98%) at 24h for MBBR with media, whereas no notable phosphate removal was observed without media. MBBR is efficient in BOD, COD, ammonia-nitrogen, and phosphate removal from municipal wastewater, offering advantages over traditional activated sludge processes regarding tank size. The findings support the feasibility of implementing MBBR for wastewater treatment at GWWTP.</p>