Photo: Martha Dagnew working at the AnMBR Prototype

Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) have become increasingly common in industrial wastewater treatment. A specialized membrane keeps microorganisms in close contact with the biological waste, allowing them to break down the dissolved solids more effectively. Now, University of Waterloo researcher Wayne J. Parker and his former PhD student Martha Dagnew  hope to transfer the system's potential to the municipal level.

AnMBRs promise an…