The role of MBR technology for the improvement of environmental footprint of wastewater treatment.

This paper aims to demonstrate the relevance of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology for the reduction of the environmental footprint of wastewater treatment in terms of removal of microbial and organic trace pollutants with increased reliability of operation. The application of a holistic approach using failure mode analysis, life cycle analysis (LCA), water quality fingerprints and environmental impacts underlines the lower environmental footprint of MBRs compared with conventional activated sludge. Several elements of this empirical approach can be included to upgrade the existing LCA tools in order to include the reduction of eco-toxicity, better human health protection and water reuse.