Customer
Benefits

ZeeLung* Membrane Aerated
Biofilm Reactor
Simple, low-energy nutrient removal in a small footprint
Introduction
Upgrading existing wastewater treatment plants or
designing new facilities for nutrient removal is challenged by process complexity, the need for larger
tank volumes and increased energy consumption.
The Membrane-Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) process enables simple, low-energy nutrient removal in
a small footprint. GE’s ZeeLung MABR technology,
when coupled with energy recovery from solids, can
cost effectively achieve energy-neutral wastewater
treatment.

MABR Technology
The MABR process employs a gas transfer membrane to deliver oxygen to a biofilm that is attached
to the surface of the membrane (Figure 1).

The MABR process leverages the synergy between
a gas transfer membrane and an attached growth
biofilm. Oxygen is delivered by diffusion to the biofilm with very high efficiency while substrate, such
as ammonia and organics, diffuses from the bulk
solution into the biofilm.

ZeeLung Product
ZeeLung is an innovative gas transfer membrane
product that is designed specifically for MABR applications.
Hollow fiber oxygen-permeable gas transfer
membranes are distributed longitudinally around
the circumference of a yarn-based reinforcing
core (Figure 2).

Figure 2:

Figure 1: MABR operation principle

Scanning electron
ZeeLung cord

microscope

image

of

The resulting construction - referred to as a “cord”
- is flexible yet unbreakable. Multiple cords are
potted into top and bottom headers to create a
module (Figure 3). The top header delivers and distributes air to the inside of the fiber lumens and
exhaust gas is collected in the bottom header.
Modules are installed in cassettes for deployment
in biological reactors.

Find a contact near you by visiting www.gewater.com and clicking on “Contact Us”.
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©2015, General Electric Company. All rights reserved.
CB1308EN.doc Sep-15