ABSTRACT
The increasing population density, rapid industrialization, agricultural growth, and urbanization in India and worldwide have significantly strained water resources, resulting in mild to severe water shortages. The treatment and reuse of wastewater are now essential to address this challenge. While physicochemical processes like reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration exist, they can be expensive and require meticulous maintenance. Biological processes such as the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) have emerged as a compact and efficient solution. Developed in the late 1980s, MBBR incorporates attached microorganisms using carrier elements, creating a tandem of suspended and attached growth processes. The cylindric polyethylene carrier components are circulated throughout the reactor and offer a surface for biofilm adhesion. MBBR overcomes the limitations of traditional attached growth processes, offering high efficiency, reduced sludge accumulation, and decreased clogging issues. The potential of MBBR as a viable strategy for efficient wastewater treatment is highlighted in this review. In addition, the MBBR system presents an opportunity for bioenergy generation. The organic matter in the sludge produced can be harnessed to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion, offering a sustainable and renewable energy source and further enhancing the environmental benefits of the MBBR system.
