In July of 2020, our Water Solutions business oversaw the installation of 10 OxyMem membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) modules, which treat and purify wastewater, at water company Severn Trent’s site in Worcestershire, United Kingdom. The plant processes wastewater from the surrounding catchment area as well as excess biosolids from satellite plants. Severn Trent was looking for a cost-effective way to retrofit and upgrade the facility to plan for population growth and meet tightening effluent standards.

Rather than expanding the plant, Severn Trent opted for an upgrade by converting it to an MABR system. Our OxyMem MABR modules were simply lowered into the system over two days to intensify the biological processes of existing wastewater treatment methods, increasing treatment capacity with minimal energy consumption. MABR technology offers simultaneous chemical oxygen demand and ammonia removal, with nitrification rates 2–3 times greater than moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology.

A major advantage Severn Trent found in upgrading with DuPont OxyMem MABR is the “plug and play” nature of the modules, which means the units can be easily lifted and lowered into place without the need to interrupt the process. Their Worcestershire plant became the largest MABR plant in the UK, all during a period of restricted access to the site due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Award-winning OxyMem MABR technology

In 2020, our OxyMem company was named the “Breakthrough Technology Company of the Year” by the Global Water Awards for its innovative Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) technology.