Anaerobic treatment of a chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater in a hybrid upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

In this study, performance of a lab-scale hybrid up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, treating a chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater, was evaluated under different operating conditions. This study consisted of two experimental stages: first, acclimation to the pharmaceutical wastewater and second, determination of maximum loading capacity of the hybrid UASB reactor. Initially, the carbon source in the reactor feed came entirely from glucose, applied at an organic loading rate (OLR) 1 kg COD/m(3) d. The OLR was gradually step increased to 3 kg COD/m(3) d at which point the feed to the hybrid UASB reactor was progressively modified by introducing the pharmaceutical wastewater in blends with glucose, so that the wastewater contributed approximately 10%, 30%, 70%, and ultimately, 100% of the carbon (COD) to be treated. At the acclimation OLR of 3 kg COD/m(3) d the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 2 days. During this period of feed modification, the COD removal efficiencies of the anaerobic reactor were 99%, 96%, 91% and 85%, and specific methanogenic activities (SMA) were measured as 240, 230, 205 and 231 ml CH(4)/g TVS d, respectively. Following the acclimation period, the hybrid UASB reactor was fed with 100% (w/v) pharmaceutical wastewater up to an OLR of 9 kg COD/m(3) d in order to determine the maximum loading capacity achievable before reactor failure. At this OLR, the COD removal efficiency was 28%, and the SMA was measured as 170 ml CH(4)/g TVS d. The hybrid UASB reactor was found to be far more effective at an OLR of 8 kg COD/m(3) d with a COD removal efficiency of 72%. At this point, SMA value was 200 ml CH(4)/g TVS d. It was concluded that the hybrid UASB reactor could be a suitable alternative for the treatment of chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater.     

Anaerobic treatment of wastewater with high suspended solids from a bulk drug industry using fixed film reactor (AFFR)

Studies were carried out on the treatment of wastewater from a bulk drug industry using an anaerobic fixed film reactor (AFFR) designed and fabricated in the laboratory. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS) of the wastewater were found to be very high with low biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) to COD ratio and high total suspended solid (TSS) concentration. Acclimatization of seed consortia and startup of the reactor was carried out by directly using the wastewater, which resulted in reducing the period of startup to 30 days. The reactor was studied at different organic loading rates (OLR) and it was found that the optimum OLR was 10 kg COD/m(3)/day. The wastewater under investigation, which had a considerable quantity of SS, was treated anaerobically without any pretreatment. COD and BOD of the reactor outlet wastewater were monitored and at steady state and optimum OLR 60-70% of COD and 80-90% of BOD were removed. The reactor was subjected to organic shock loads at two different OLR and the reaction could withstand the shocks and performance could be restored to normalcy at that OLR. The results obtained indicated that AFFR could be used efficiently for the treatment of wastewater from a bulk drug industry having high COD, TDS and TSS.     

Treatment of low strength industrial cluster wastewater by anaerobic hybrid reactor

The study was aimed at treating the complex, combined wastewater generated in Mangolpuri industrial cluster. It was considered as a low strength wastewater with respect to its organic content. Anaerobic treatment of this wastewater was studied using an anaerobic hybrid reactor (AHR) which combined the best features of both the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and anaerobic fluidized bed rector (AFBR). The performance of the reactor under different organic and hydraulic loading rates were studied. The COD removal reached 94% at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.08 kg COD m(-3)d(-1) at an hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6.0 h. The granules developed were characterized in terms of their diameter and terminal settling velocity.     

Anaerobic treatment of wastewater with high suspended solids from a bulk drug industry using fixed film reactor (AFFR)

Studies are carried out on the treatment of wastewater from a bulk drug industry using an anaerobic fixed film reactor (AFFR) designed and fabricated in the laboratory. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS) of the wastewater are found to be very high with low Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) to COD ratio and high total suspended solid (TSS) concentration. Acclimatization of seed consortia and start up of the reactor is carried out by directly using the wastewater, which resulted in reducing the period of startup to 30 days. The reactor is studied at different organic loading rates (OLR) and it is found that the optimum OLR is 10 kg COD/m3/day. The wastewater under investigation, which is having considerable quantity of SS, is treated anaerobically without any pretreatment. The COD and BOD of the reactor outlet wastewater are monitored and reduction at steady state and optimum OLR is observed to be 60-70% of COD and 80-90% of BOD. The reactor is subjected to organic shock loads at two different OLR and it is observed that the reactor could withstand shocks and performance could be restored to normalcy at that OLR. The results obtained indicated that AFFR could be used efficiently for the treatment of wastewater from a bulk drug industry having high COD, TDS and TSS.     

Effects of temperatures and organic loading rates on biomethanation of acidic petrochemical wastewater using an anaerobic upflow fixed-film reactor

The effect of temperature and organic loading rate on the rate of methane production from acidic petrochemical wastewater without neutralization was investigated by continuously feeding an anaerobic upflow fixed-film reactor. The temperatures selected for the studies were 25, 37, 45 and 55 degrees C. Organic loading rate (OLR) for each temperature was varied from 3.6 to 21.7 kg COD m(-3) d(-1). Best performance with respect to COD and BOD reduction, total gas production and methane yield was obtained with the reactor operating at 37 degrees C. OLR could be increased to a maximum of 21.7 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) with 90-95% COD and BOD reduction and methane yield of 0.450 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) added. The reactor operating at 55 degrees C gave the highest methane yield of 0.666 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) at an OLR of 6 kg COD m(-3) d(-1). This decreased to 0.110 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) when the OLR was increased to 18.1 kg COD m(-3) d(-1). The reactor operating at 45 degrees C gave a maximum methane yield of 0.416 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) added at an OLR of 6 kg COD m(-3) d(-1). On further increasing the OLR to 9 kg COD m(-3) d(-1), COD reduction was 89%, however, methane yield decreased to 0.333 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) added. The highest methane yield of 0.333 m3 kg(-1) COD d(-1) added at an OLR of 6 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) was obtained with reactors operating at 25 degrees C. These studies indicate potential rates of methane production from acidic petrochemical wastewater under different temperatures. This provides a guideline for various kinetic analyses and economic evaluation of the potential feasibility of fermenting acidic wastewater to methane.     

Study on biomethonization of waste water from jam industries

Anaerobic digestion of wastewater from jam industries was studied in a continuous reactor with different organic loading rates (OLR) and the optimum organic loading rate was 6.5 kg COD/m(3)/day when it was operated with three days HRT. The biodegradability of wastewater in batch experiments was about 90%. The removal efficiency of total COD and soluble COD were found to 82% and 85%, respectively. The specific methane production was 0.28 m(3)/kg of COD removed/day.     

Effect of substrate loading rate of chemical wastewater on fermentative biohydrogen production in biofilm configured sequencing batch reactor

The influence of substrate loading rate on fermentative hydrogen (H2) production was studied in biofilm configured sequencing batch reactor using chemical wastewater as substrate. Reactor was operated with selectively enriched anaerobic mixed microflora at different organic loading rates (OLRs; 6.3, 7.1 and 7.9kg COD/m3 day) after adjusting the feed to a pH of 6.0 (acidophilic) to provide suitable environment for acidogenic bacterial function. Variation in H2 production rate was observed with change in OLR [specific hydrogen yield - 13.44molH2/kgCODRday (6.3kgCOD/m3day), 8.23molH2/kgCODRday (7.1kgCOD/m3 day) and 6.064molH2/kgCODR day (7.9kgCOD/m3 day)]. H2 yield showed reasonably good correlation with pH drop [6.3kgCOD/m3 day (R2 - 0.9796), 7.1kgCOD/m3 day (R2 - 0.9973), 7.9kgCOD/m3 day (R2 - 0.9908)]. Increase in OLR showed marked reduction in COD removal efficiency [22.6% - 6.3kgCOD/m3 day; 19.8% - 7.1kgCOD/m3 day and 17.2% - 7.9kgCOD/m3 day].     

Performances of a full-scale novel multiplate anaerobic reactor treating cheese whey effluent

A 450-m(3) multiplate anaerobic reactor (MPAR) has been started-up in April 1992 for treating wastewater (whey permeate and domestic wastewater) at the Nutrinor (Lactel) cheese factory in Chambord (Québec, Canada). The MPAR consists of four superimposed sections. The liquid flows upwards from one section to the next, while the gas is collected below each plate and evacuated through side-outlets. The wastewater is concurrently distributed at the bottom of the first, second, and third sections, as 50%, 33%, and 17% of the total influent stream, respectively. Granular anaerobic sludge at an initial concentration of 30 kg of volatile suspended solids (VSS) per cubic meter of reactor liquid volume was used to inoculate the reactor. Under normal operation of the factory, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of the influent ranged from 20 to 37 kg COD m(-3). The reactor organic loading rate (OLR) fluctuated between 9 and 14.7 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) for hydraulic retention times (HRT) maintained between 55 and 68 h. At the highest OLR, the MPAR showed an efficiency of 98% and 92% for soluble and total COD removal, respectively, and a methane production rate averaging around 4 m(3) m(-3) d(-1).Biomass-specific activities ranged between 7 and 51, 1.3 and 8.5, 5.3 and 12.2, 60 and 119, and 119 and 211 mmol g(-1) VSS d(-1) for glucose, propionate, acetate, formate, and hydrogen, respectively. Average equivalent-diameter of the granules was around 0.65 mm. The MPAR reactor generally showed a large capacity for solid retention with a biomass content between 32 and 37 kg VSS m(-3). (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A further study of the anaerobic biotreatment of malt whisky distillery pot ale using an UASB system

Pot ale from a pilot-scale malt whisky distillery was treated using a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) digester. Stable operation was observed at organic loading rates (OLRs) of 5.46 kg COD/m3 day or less when the pot ale was diluted with tap water. Digester failure occurred when undiluted pot ale was used, even though OLR was less than 5 kg COD/m3 day. Overall performance was worse than that observed previously when UASB digesters were used to treat pot ale from a different source supplemented with trace elements. A substantial proportion of effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) was present as volatile fatty acids (VFA), particularly during periods of reactor stress, indicating that overall performance was limited by the rate of VFA conversion. Wastewater alkalinity rose during digestion. The sludge which developed in the reactor was flocculent but did not form compact granules.     

Treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater in a UASB reactor and an anaerobic filter

A study was performed to assess the feasibility of anaerobic treatment of slaughterhouse wastewaters in a UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor and in an AF (Anaerobic Filter). Among the different streams generated, the slaughter line showed the highest organic content with an average COD of 8000 mg/l, of which 70% was proteins. The suspended solids content represented between 15 and 30% of the COD. Both reactors had a working volume of 21. They were operated at 37°C. The UASB reactor was run at OLR (Organic Loading Rates) of 1–6.5 kg COD/m³/day. The COD removal was 90% for OLR up to 5 kg COD/m³/day and 60% for an OLR of 6.5 kg COD/m³/day. For similar organic loading rates, the AF showed lower removal efficiencies and lower percentages of methanization. At higher OLR sludge, flotation occurred and consequently the active biomass was washed out from the filter. The results indicated that anaerobic treatment systems are applicable to slaughterhouse wastewaters and that the UASB reactor shows a better performance, giving higher COD removal efficiencies than the AF.     

Influence of recirculation on the performance of anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) treating hypersaline composite chemical wastewater

Influence of recirculation on the performance of anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) was studied in the process of treating hypersaline (total dissolved inorganic solids (TDIS) approximately 26 g/l) and low biodegradable (BOD/COD approximately 0.3) composite chemical wastewater. Significant enhancement in the substrate removal efficiency and biogas yield was observed after introducing the recirculation to the system. Maximum efficiency (COD removal efficiency - 51%; SDR - 3.14 kg COD/cum-day) was observed at recirculation to feed (R/F) ratio of 2 (OLR - 6.15 kg C OD/cum-day; HLR - 2.30 cum (liquid)/cum day; UFV(A) - 0.023 m/h). Subsequent increase of R/F to 3 (OLR - 6.15 kg COD/cum-day; HLR - 3.07cum (liquid)/cum-day; UFV(A) - 0.035 m/h) resulted in reduction in COD removal efficiency (32%; SDR - 1.97 kg COD/cum-day). The enhanced performance of the system due to the introduction of recirculation was attributed to the improvement in the mass transfer between the substrate present in the bulk liquid and the attached biofilm. The hydrodynamic behavior due to recirculation mode of operation reduced the concentration gradient (substrate inhibition) of substrate and reaction by-products (VFA) resulting in mixed flow conditions.     

Challenge of psychrophilic anaerobic wastewater treatment

Psychrophilic anaerobic treatment is an attractive option for wastewaters that are discharged at moderate to low temperature. The expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor has been shown to be a feasible system for anaerobic treatment of mainly soluble and pre-acidified wastewater at temperatures of 5--10 degrees C. An organic loading rate (OLR) of 10--12 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) per cubic meter reactor per day can be achieved at 10--12 degrees C with a removal efficiency of 90%. Further improvement might be obtained by a two-module system in series. Stabile methanogenesis was observed at temperatures as low as 4--5 degrees C. The specific activity of the mesophilic granular sludge was improved under psychrophilic conditions, which indicates that there was growth and enrichment of methanogens and acetogens in the anaerobic system. Anaerobic sewage treatment is a real challenge in moderate climates because sewage belongs to the 'complex' wastewater category and contains a high fraction of particulate COD. A two-step system consisting of either an anaerobic up-flow sludge bed (UASB) reactor combined with an EGSB reactor or an anaerobic filter (AF) combined with an anaerobic hybrid reactor (AH) is successful for anaerobic treatment of sewage at 13 degrees C with a total COD removal efficiency of 50% and 70%, respectively.     

Treatment of brewery slurry in thermophilic anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

Treatment of brewery slurry in a thermophilic anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) was studied using conventional fully mixed semi-continuous digestion as a control. The process phases were adapted to fit the brewery slurry discharge schedule. ASBR experiments were conducted under different organic loading rates (OLR) from 3.23 to 8.57 kg of COD/m(3)day of reactor and control was conducted with OLR of 3.0 kg of COD/m(3)day. The ASBR COD degradation efficiency was from 79.6% to 88.9%, control experiment efficiency was 65%. ASBR VSS removal efficiency was from 78.5% to 90.5%, control experiment efficiency was 54%. The ASBR methane production yield was from 371 to 418 L/kg COD inserted, control experiment methane yield was 248 L/kg COD inserted. The ASBR process was superior to conventional fully mixed digestion, and is fully adaptable to brewery slurry discharge, needs no additional collection and settling pools and experiences no solids settling problems.     

固定载体卧式厌氧反应器处理糖蜜废水的快速启动

为高效处理高浓度有机废水而设计了固定载体卧式厌氧反应器R1和R2, 它是厌氧折流板反应器(ABR)的改进, 以活性炭纤维作为生物膜载体固定并充当反应器的折流板, 在实验室规模上对R1和R2处理糖蜜废水进行快速启动运行。HRT和ORL是影响R1和R2稳定高效运行及启动的2个重要工艺参数。实验证明: HRT为2 d时, 反应器运行最佳。在第30天时, R1的COD去除率达到84.88%, R2达到81.72%。随着进水ORL由1.25 kg/(m3·d)提升到10 kg/(m3·d), 沼气容积产气率由0.35 L/(L·d)逐渐增加到4.98 L/(L·d)。进水pH值为3.9?4.5之间, 整个启动运行过程中, 未调节pH值, R1和R2的出水pH值均在6.7?7.6之间, 2个反应器均有较强的抗酸能力, R1的pH波动更为平缓。在整个实验过程中, 污泥流失量小, 没有发生堵塞现象, 在处理酸性高浓度有机废水时, 2个反应器均表现出较强的抗负荷冲击能力。     

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion in a fluidised-bed reactor of wastewater from the production of protein isolates from chickpea flour

A study of the anaerobic digestion of wastewater derived from the production of protein isolates from chickpea flour was carried out in a laboratory-scale, mesophilic (35 °C) fluidised-bed reactor with saponite as bacterial support. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal efficiencies in the range of 96.8–85.2% were achieved in the reactor at organic loading rates (OLR) of between 0.58 and 2.10 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/l per day, hydraulic retention times (HRT) of between 14.9 and 4.5 days and average feed COD concentration of 9.1 g/l. Eighty-five percent of feed COD could be removed up to OLR of 2.1 g COD/l per day. The yield coefficient of methane production was 0.34 l of methane (at STP) per gram COD removed and was virtually independent of the OLR applied. Because the buffering capacity of the experimental system was maintained at favourable levels with excess total alkalinity present at all loadings, the rate of methanogenesis was not affected by loading. Experimental data indicated that a total alkalinity in the range of 1090–2130 mg/l as CaCO₃ was sufficient to prevent the pH from decreasing to below 7.2 for OLR of up to 2.7 g COD/l per day. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels and the VFA/alkalinity ratio were lower than the suggested limits for digester failure (0.3–0.4) for OLR and HRT up to 2.7 g COD/l per day and 3.5 days, respectively. For a HRT of 2.8 days (OLR of 3.00 g COD/l per day) the start of acidification was observed in the reactor.     

Effects of cationic polymer on performance of UASB reactors treating low strength wastewater

The effect of cationic polymer additives on biomass granulation and COD removal efficiency had been examined in lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, treating low strength synthetic wastewater (COD 300-630 mg/l). Under identical conditions, two reactors were operated with and without polymer additives in inoculum under four different organic loading rates (OLRs). The optimum polymer dose was adopted based upon the results of jar test and settling test carried out with inoculum seed sludge. With the use of thick inoculum, SS greater than 110 g/l and VSS/SS ratio less than 0.3, granulation was observed in UASB reactor treating synthetic wastewater as well as actual sewage, when OLR was greater than 1.0 kg COD/m(3) d. Polymer additive with such thick inoculum was observed to deteriorate percentage granules and COD removal efficiency compared to inoculum without polymer additives. At OLR less than 1.0 kg COD/m(3) d, proper granulation could not be achieved in both the reactors inoculated with and without polymer additive. Also, under this low loading, drastic reduction in COD removal efficiency was observed with polymer additives in inoculum. Hence, it is rational to conclude that biomass granulation for treatment of low strength biodegradable wastewater depends on the applied loading rate and selection of thick inoculum sludge.     

Removal of total lipids and fatty acids from sunflower oil factory effluent by UASB reactor

In this study wastewaters of a sunflower oil factory in Elazig (Turkey) were investigated in a pilot-scale mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor by determination of removal of total lipids (TL) and fatty acids (FA). The removal efficiencies of TL and FA (linoleic, oleic, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arashidic, behenic and other FA) were above 70% at organic loading rates (OLR) between 1.6 and 7.8 kg COD/m(3)d and at optimum hydraulic retention times of 2.0 and 2.8 day. The conversion rate of removed COD to methane was between 0.16 and 0.354 m(3) CH(4)/kg COD.     

Anaerobic treatment of cassava starch extraction wastewater using a horizontal flow filter with bamboo as support

Small-scale sour starch agroindustry in Colombia suffer from absence of water treatment. Although starch processing plants produce diluted wastewater, it is a source of pollution and cause environmental problems to the nearby rural population. A laboratory scale anaerobic horizontal flow filter packed with bamboo pieces was evaluated for the treatment of cassava starch extraction wastewater. The wastewater used in the experimentation was the draining water of the starch sedimentation basin. The reactor was operated for 6 months. It was inoculated with a semi-granular sludge from an anaerobic UASB reactor of a slaughterhouse. Maximum organic loading rate (OLR) applied was 11.8g COD/L d without dilution of the wastewater. At steady state and maximum OLR applied, 87% of the COD was removed and a gas productivity of 3.7L/L d was achieved. The average biogas yield was 0.36L/g COD removed. Methane content in the biogas was in the range of 69-81%. The total suspended solids (TSS) removed were 67%. The relative high lactic acid content did not negatively influence the performance of the reactor. No perturbation due to cyanide (3-5mg/L) was observed during the reactor operation. The results obtained indicated that the anaerobic horizontal flow filter could be used efficiently for the treatment of wastewater from Colombian starch processing small-scale agroindustry.     

Performance of anaerobic thermophilic fluidized bed in the treatment of cutting-oil wastewater

This paper examines the effect of organic loading rate on the removal efficiency of COD and TOC anaerobic thermophilic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) in the treatment of cutting-oil wastewater at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) conditions. The essays are development at laboratory scale using a porous support medium. The AFBR reactor was subjected to a programme of steady-state operation over a range of hydraulic retention times, HRTs, in the range 12-2h and organic loading rates, OLRs, between 11.9 and 51.3kgCOD/m(3)d. The highest efficiency was 95.9% for an OLR of 13kgCOD/m(3)d and HRT of 11h. Over an operating period of 92 days, an OLR of 51.3kgCOD/m(3)d was achieved with 67.1% COD removal efficiency (71.3% TOC) in the experimental AFBR reactor. Although the level of biogas generation was not high, the anaerobic fluidized bed technology provided significant advantages over the conventional physico-chemical treatment applied in the factory. The effluent had a better quality (lower organic loading) and it was possible to reuse it in different applications in the factory (e.g., irrigation of gardens). The biological treatment did not lead to the generation of oily sludge, which is considered as hazardous waste by legislation. Furthermore, a continuous stream is produced and this reduced the impact of large flows discharged 4-5 times per week to the urban collector and MWWTP (municipal wastewater treatment plant).     

Treatment of brewery wastewater using anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR)

Brewery wastewater was treated in a pilot-scale anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) in which a floating cover(@) was employed. Long time experiments showed that the reactor worked stably and effectively for COD removal and gas production. When the organic loading rate was controlled between 1.5 kg COD/m3 d and 5.0 kg COD/m(3)d, and hydraulic retention time one day, COD removal efficiency could reach more than 90%. Sludge granulation was achieved in the reactor in approximately 60 days, which is much less than the granulation time ever reported. In addition, high specific methanogenic activity (SMA) for formate was observed. The study suggests that the ASBR technology is a potential alternative for brewery wastewater treatment.