Singapore’s first ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant coupled with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was opened on 7 March 2014 to treat and recycle industrial used water.
PUB, Singapore’s national water agency and Meiden Singapore (MSL), a subsidiary of Meidensha, have built the 4,550 m³/d plant at the Jurong Water Reclamation facility.
The reclamation of industrial used water has conventionally been considered challenging because of its high organic loading. The combined use of UASB and MBR technologies can achieve a consistent, high-quality output of recycled water.
As a pretreatment system, the UASB can remove organic contaminants efficiently, while the downstream ceramic MBR can produce a higher yield and more consistent water quality. The biogas generation from UASB can also be used for in-house power generation.
This collaboration is a result of an MOU signed during the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) in 2010, following which MSL has been conducting verification tests for the ceramic MBR system. Now MSL is taking the research one step further by collaborating with PUB on a demonstration plant to treat and recycle industrial used water.
Along with this investment, MSL will establish a research and development centre and assembly factory for ceramic membrane units in Singapore, as well as a facility for after-sales service in Asia. Singapore will also serve as MSL’s regional headquarters for water business in Asia.
Founded in 1975, Meiden has been manufacturing transformers and switchgears primarily for the Asian market. It will become home for the assembly of ceramic membranes in Singapore by 2015.