MBBR Media Supplier in Bangladesh
HDPE MBBR biofilm carrier media (model PE64) from China for ETP and STP biological tanks, supplied with installation and after-sales support by Techno Bangla Creation.
What Is MBBR Media?
MBBR media is a small plastic carrier that floats freely inside an aerated wastewater tank. Bacteria grow as a thin biofilm on its surfaces and consume dissolved pollutants such as organic matter and ammonia. In ETP and STP plants it lets a compact tank hold more active biomass than a plain aeration tank.
MBBR stands for moving bed biofilm reactor, a process developed in Norway in the late 1980s and early 1990s. MBBR media is not a filter that strains water, and it is not tube settler media. The carriers are a home for bacteria, while tube settler media helps solids settle.
- HDPE carrier, model PE64, slightly lighter than water
- Fills 15 to 65% of the tank volume, depending on design
- Works in aerobic tanks (air mixing) and anoxic tanks (mixers)
- Installation and after-sales support in Bangladesh
MBBR Media Specifications
- Model
- PE64
- Size
- Ø25 × 4 mm
- Material
- HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
- Surface Area
- > 1200 m²/m³ (more than 1.2 m² per litre of media)
- Density
- 0.94 ~ 0.97 g/cm³ (about 940 ~ 970 kg/m³, just under water)
- Filling (Dosing) Ratio
- 15% ~ 65% of tank volume
- Nitrification Rate
- 500 ~ 1400 g NH₄-N/m³·d (0.5 ~ 1.4 kg NH₄-N/m³·d)
- Application
- ETP, STP
- Origin
- China
Surface area and nitrification figures are supplier ratings. Ask us for the datasheet to confirm whether the area is total or protected, and which test conditions the nitrification rate used.
How Much MBBR Media Does a Tank Need?
Media quantity is tank volume multiplied by the filling ratio. Here is a worked example with the PE64 ratings above.
- Aerobic Tank (Example)
- 100 m³
- Filling Ratio Chosen
- 40% (inside the 15 ~ 65% range)
- Media Volume
- 100 × 0.40 = 40 m³
- Carrier Surface Area
- 40 × 1200 = more than 48,000 m²
- Area Per m³ of Tank
- 0.40 × 1200 = more than 480 m²/m³
- Ammonia Capacity at Rating
- 40 m³ × 500 ~ 1400 g = about 20 ~ 56 kg NH₄-N per day
This is illustrative arithmetic. It assumes the supplier ratings hold in your tank and that the nitrification rate is per m³ of media. For reference, the original K1 and K3 carriers are about 500 m²/m³ in bulk, and higher-area designs reach roughly 800 to 1200 m²/m³. A reported pilot test also found that more surface area did not always mean faster biofilm start-up, so our engineers confirm the final quantity from your pollutant load, temperature and oxygen supply.
MBBR vs Activated Sludge vs MBR
All three treat wastewater biologically. They work differently, so each fits different plants.
| Feature | MBBR | Activated Sludge | MBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where bacteria live | Attached as biofilm on moving carriers | Suspended in the tank as flocs | Suspended at higher concentration, with membranes separating the water |
| Footprint | Smaller than activated sludge, as reported | Largest, because it needs big tanks and a clarifier | Compact, reported up to about 50% smaller than activated sludge |
| Sludge return | Not needed in a pure MBBR | Return pumping needed | Membranes replace the clarifier |
| Effluent quality | Usually followed by a clarifier or polishing step | Good when well run, with a clarifier | High quality, suits reuse and recycling |
| Cost | Moderate: media cost plus smaller tanks | Usually lower equipment cost but higher civil cost | Higher capital and running cost |
| Operation | Simple, with retention sieves and routine sampling | Needs sludge age and return-flow control | Needs membrane cleaning and replacement |
| Best fit | Space-limited ETP and STP, upgrades of existing tanks, high organic or ammonia load | Large sites with land and steady load | Reuse targets, tight discharge limits and tight space |
Values are typical ranges from engineering literature and manufacturer material, so confirm them for your own wastewater. For membrane systems, see our MBR plant page.
How Does MBBR Media Work?
- Media Fills the TankCarriers take up 15 to 65% of the tank volume. A sieve at the outlet keeps them inside.
- Air Keeps Carriers MovingA blower and air diffusers supply oxygen and tumble the carriers. Anoxic tanks use mixers.
- Biofilm GrowsBacteria attach to the carrier surface. Start-up takes from a few days to several weeks.
- Biofilm Cleans the WaterBacteria consume organic matter and, in aerobic tanks, convert ammonia to nitrate.
- Treated Water Moves OnWater passes the sieve to a clarifier or polishing step, then to discharge or reuse.
Key Benefits of MBBR Media
Treatment capacity depends on how much surface the bacteria can use, and media adds that surface without adding tank volume.
- High rated surface area (above 1200 m²/m³) gives bacteria more room to grow in the same tank
- Smaller footprint than activated sludge, as reported in engineering literature
- No sludge return pumping in a pure MBBR, so operation stays simple
- Rated ammonia removal of 500 to 1400 g NH₄-N/m³·d for nitrification duty
- Adjustable filling ratio (15 to 65%), so capacity can be raised by adding media within the tank's limit
- Durable HDPE carriers with local engineering and after-sales support from Techno Bangla
Is MBBR Media Right for Your Plant?
Choose MBBR Media When
- Land or tank space is limited
- You want to add capacity to an existing aeration tank
- The wastewater has a high organic load or ammonia to remove
- You prefer simple operation without sludge return
- A clarifier or polishing step can follow the biological tank
Look at Other Options When
- You need reuse-grade water straight from the biological step. See an MBR plant.
- Colour, TDS or heavy metals are the main problem. These need chemical or advanced steps alongside biology.
- Aeration capacity is weak. Carriers need enough air to circulate.
- The wastewater is toxic enough to stop biofilm from forming
- You only need better solids settling. Try tube settler media.
Where Is MBBR Media Used?
Biological treatment of organic wastewater and ammonia in ETP and STP plants.
- Textile Dyeing ETP
- Garment Washing ETP
- Food and Beverage
- Pharmaceutical
- Paper and Chemical
- Hospital STP
- Residential and Commercial STP
- Existing Tank Upgrade
How to Choose MBBR Media
Share these details with our engineers and we will recommend a media quantity and the matching aeration.
- Pollutant load and goal. Send flow, BOD, COD and ammonia values, and say whether you need organics removal, nitrification or both. Ask for rated removal per m³ of media, not only surface area.
- Surface area type. Ask whether the area is total or protected inside the carrier. Protected area is shielded from carrier collisions, and engineers use it for design.
- Filling ratio and tank shape. Quantity is tank volume multiplied by filling ratio. Tank shape and mixing decide whether carriers circulate evenly.
- Aeration and retention sieves. The blower and diffusers must supply oxygen and keep carriers moving, and sieves must keep media in the tank.
- Discharge limits. Confirm the ECR 2023 limit for your industry with DoE before sizing. Media treats biodegradable load, so plan other steps for colour and TDS.
Why Do Factories Use MBBR in Bangladesh?
Factory land is costly and often tight, and MBBR tanks are reported to be smaller than activated sludge tanks for the same load. Warm weather also helps, because biofilm growth rises with temperature up to an optimum.
Discharge limits are strict. For textile washing, dyeing and printing, DoE lab reports quote ECR 2023 limits of BOD 30 mg/L, COD 200 mg/L, colour 150 Hazen and TDS 2100 mg/L. Biology handles organics and ammonia, so MBBR usually sits inside a complete ETP plant design.
Installation and After-Sales Support
Techno Bangla Creation supplies treatment plant equipment together with installation, commissioning and after-sales support for factories, businesses and organizations across Bangladesh.
Our team is based in Mohakhali, Dhaka. Send your tank volume and wastewater data and our engineers will recommend a media quantity. For domestic and commercial sewage, see the sewage treatment plant page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MBBR media?
MBBR media is a small plastic carrier that floats in an aerated wastewater tank. Bacteria grow as a biofilm on its surfaces and consume organic matter and ammonia. MBBR stands for moving bed biofilm reactor. Our PE64 carrier is made of HDPE and is used in ETP and STP biological tanks.
What is the difference between MBBR and activated sludge?
In activated sludge, bacteria float freely as flocs and must be settled and returned to the tank. In an MBBR, bacteria grow on moving carriers and stay in the tank behind a sieve. MBBR tanks are generally reported to be smaller, but they usually still need a clarifier or polishing step afterwards.
What filling ratio should I use for MBBR media?
Our PE64 media is listed at a filling ratio of 15 to 65 percent of tank volume. Literature reports carrier fill up to about 70 percent in MBBR tanks, with roughly 50 to 65 percent normal for common carriers. The right figure depends on your load, tank shape and mixing, so our engineers confirm it.
How much MBBR media do I need for my tank?
Multiply your tank volume by the filling ratio. A 100 m³ tank filled to 40 percent needs 40 m³ of media. The correct quantity comes from your pollutant load and the media's rated removal per m³, so send us flow, BOD, COD and ammonia data and we will size it.
Is MBBR suitable for textile and garment ETPs in Bangladesh?
MBBR is widely used for biodegradable organic load and ammonia, and warm weather generally helps biofilm growth. Textile effluent also carries colour, salts and chemicals that biology alone often does not remove, so MBBR is normally one stage inside a complete ETP. Our engineers design the full train against your DoE limits.
How long does biofilm take to grow on new MBBR media?
Start-up usually takes from a few days to several weeks. In one reported aquaculture test of five carrier designs, bacterial growth developed in roughly 2 to 4 weeks. Temperature, oxygen, pH and the load you feed all affect speed. Our engineers support commissioning so the biofilm establishes smoothly.
Does MBBR media need a blower and diffusers?
Yes. Aerobic MBBR tanks need air both to supply oxygen and to keep carriers moving, so blower and diffuser sizing matters as much as the media. Anoxic tanks use mixers instead. We supply Roots and turbo blowers, air diffusers and mixing agitators, so the whole aeration system can be matched to your media.
How can I get a quotation for MBBR media?
Send your tank volume, flow, BOD, COD and ammonia values, and the wastewater type, by phone or email. Our engineers recommend a media quantity and reply with a free quotation for your ETP, STP or other water treatment equipment. Mention aeration needs too and we can quote matching blowers and diffusers.
