K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 MBBR Media: A Comprehensive Guide

In the field of wastewater treatment, the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology has become a common solution. MBBR media serves as the carrier in this process. It can provide an efficient surface for biofilm growth to degrade organic pollutants. Currently, several common types of MBBR media are highly popular in the market, including K1, K2, K3, K4, and K5 media. This guide aims to explore the different characteristics, applications, and selection criteria of these media to assist you in choosing the appropriate model for practical applications.

MBBR media is a cylindrical carrier made of plastic materials such as HDPE, polyethylene, or polypropylene. It adsorbs microorganisms through a large specific surface area, hollow shape, and suspended operation mode. After the biofilm is formed, it can utilize these microorganisms to decompose pollutants in water. The performance of the media mainly depends on the specific surface area density, durability, and adaptability to system conditions.

 

K1 MBBR Media

K1 media is made of HDPE material. It can resist the corrosion of various chemical components such as nitrogen and phosphorus and has a solid structure, suitable for long-term operation. The medium has a hollow cylindrical structure with a diameter of approximately 10 mm and a thickness of 1 mm. It has fewer surface openings and a moderate specific surface area (about 500 m²/m³).
Characteristics:
• Strong fluidity, easy to attach microorganisms and form a biofilm.
• Suitable for low-load sewage treatment, including domestic sewage and biochemical ponds.
• Suitable for aerobic and anaerobic environments and has a uniform microorganism growth effect.
Application Scenarios:
• Municipal sewage treatment (domestic sewage treatment plants, decentralized sewage treatment).
• Pretreatment of industrial wastewater (food processing, breweries, pharmaceutical industry).

 

K2 MBBR Media

K2 media has a structure similar to K1 but is larger. It is often used in medium-load sewage treatment with higher oxygen transfer efficiency. With a diameter of 12 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm, it features a larger internal space, enhancing the microorganism carrier capacity.
Characteristics:
• Faster biofilm cultivation and suitable for nitrification and denitrification processes.
• Capable of handling high-concentration organic sewage and improving pollutant degradation efficiency.
• Applicable to aquaculture, rural sewage treatment, and black and odorous water body restoration.
Application Scenarios:
• Aquaculture wastewater treatment (fisheries, livestock farms).
• Black and odorous water body treatment (river and lake restoration).
• Food processing wastewater (slaughterhouses, dairy factories).

 

K3 MBBR Media

K3 media has a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 1.1 mm. So it's larger than K1 and K2. With a hollow cross structure, it can strengthen its microorganism adhesion and improve oxygen utilization. Also, the specific surface area of about 800 m²/m³ makes it more suitable for higher-load sewage.
Characteristics:
• Applicable to high organic load sewage, for improved BOD and COD degradation efficiency.
• Stable operation and quick reattachment of biofilm after detachment.
• Suitable for industrial sewage, slaughterhouse wastewater, and petrochemical wastewater treatment.
Application Scenarios:
• High-concentration industrial wastewater (papermaking, chemical, printing and dyeing industries).
• Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment (containing high fat and protein).
• Landfill leachate treatment (high ammonia nitrogen and high organic pollutants).

 

K4 MBBR Media

K4 media is constructed from enhanced HDPE material, which is impact-resistant and acid-base resistant. It has a diameter of 30 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm, with more voids than K3. It is suitable for larger-flow sewage treatment processes, especially in high-load environments.
Characteristics:
• Applicable to large-scale sewage treatment plants and enhancing oxygen dissolution efficiency.
• Low energy consumption, easy to maintain, and suitable for long-term continuous operation.
Application Scenarios:
• Urban sewage treatment plants (large-scale sewage purification systems).
• MBR systems in large industrial sewage stations.

 

K5 MBBR Media

K5 media is designed for large-flow and high-load sewage treatment systems. It has a diameter of 35 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. With higher porosity than previous models, K5 media can enhance biofilm adhesion and reduce filler agglomeration.
Characteristics:
• Strong in shock load resistance.
• Larger specific surface area, with increased microorganism attachment and ammonia nitrogen removal ability.
• Applicable to high-pollution wastewater treatment.
Application Scenarios:
• High-load industrial wastewater treatment (refineries, pharmaceutical factories, coal chemical industry).
• Landfill leachate treatment (high ammonia nitrogen and high COD removal).

Now that we have understood the characteristics of these media. Then, how should we choose the appropriate one and what factors should we consider?

1. Sewage Characteristics:

For low-load domestic sewage or biochemical pond applications, K1 is a suitable choice.

K2 is more suitable for medium-load sewage with a focus on aquaculture or rural wastewater. In addition, if you are engaged in refineries or pharmaceutical factories and your sewage is of extremely high-load and highly polluted type, we generally recommend that you use K5.

2. Treatment Objectives:

Efficient nitrification and denitrification: K2 or K3

Enhanced oxygen dissolution and energy-saving operation in large systems: K4

High-strength industrial wastewater and strong ammonia nitrogen removal: K5

3. Operation and Maintenance: All models are made of HDPE material and can resist chemical corrosion. However, K4 and K5 are made of enhanced materials and are more suitable for large-scale and high-load applications. The solid structure enables them to maintain stability during long-term operation and requires less replacement.

In the above content, we have learned about the different models of MBBR media from K1 to K5. It can be said that they cover various wastewater treatment needs, from compact aquaculture filters to industrial-scale factories. Of course, when making a selection, we should still combine the surface area and durability of the media properties with the system requirements.

As a water treatment supplier with extensive project experience, AquaSus offers customized wastewater treatment solutions, covering MBBR media selection, process optimization, and operation debugging.