Maximises renewable energy production while producing high-quality effluent.
Overview
Memthane® is an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) that maximises renewable energy production while producing excellent-quality effluent that can be reused or discharged directly to sewer. This new leading-edge technology, developed by Veolia Water Technologies' subsidiary Biothane, delivers a unique, small footprint solution that offers many benefits, including reducing disposal costs while generating valuable biogas.
In addition, Memthane® offers significant total operating cost reduction compared to conventional technologies, taking into account all elements, including membranes, chemicals, sludge disposal and overall energy savings. This simple, single, fully automated reactor system also provides the option of remote control.
What is an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor?
Anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology (AnMBR) combines the advantages of anaerobic treatment with membrane separation using a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Physical separation membranes are used in conjunction with anaerobic digestion to remove the maximum amount of organics while delivering the highest volume of biogas. AnMBR technology is ideal for the treatment of wastewater streams and slurry with high concentrations of organic matter, solids, fat, oil and grease.
How does Memthane® work?
Memthane® is based on membrane bioreactor technology, specifically an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). It combines anaerobic biological treatment with advanced membrane separation to efficiently process heavily contaminated wastewater. The MBR wastewater treatment process ensures that organics, solids, fats, oils, and grease are removed while producing high-quality effluent that can be reused or safely discharged. At the same time, the system generates renewable biogas, which can be recovered as a valuable energy source.
Which industries is Memthane® suitable for?
Memthane® is designed for industries in Australia and New Zealand that generate wastewater streams with high organic loads. Typical applications include food and beverage manufacturing, dairy processing (a major sector across ANZ), breweries, distilleries, and meat processing plants, all of which produce effluent rich in solids and fats. For these industries, a membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment ensures reliable compliance with strict regional environmental standards while reducing operating costs and disposal needs.
How does it support sustainability and the circular economy?
Memthane® helps businesses in ANZ meet sustainability and resource recovery targets by:
- Producing renewable energy in the form of biogas through anaerobic digestion
- Delivering high-quality effluent that can be reused within operations, cutting freshwater demand
- Reducing sludge generation compared to conventional MBR sewage treatment plant
This supports both Australia and New Zealand’s national circular economy goals by lowering environmental impact and operational costs.
How does it compare to conventional wastewater treatment?
Unlike conventional systems that often require more energy, chemicals, and frequent sludge handling, Memthane® offers a compact design with lower total operating costs. Its advanced MBR wastewater treatment process not only improves effluent quality but also generates renewable energy from waste. This results in cost savings across energy, sludge disposal, and maintenance, making it a more sustainable and efficient alternative to standard wastewater treatment technologies in the ANZ region.
Applications
We design and manage innovative solutions for a wide range of water and wastewater treatment applications.
