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Treatment of domestic wastewater using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

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Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the study on treatment of domestic wastewater using a laboratory scale Hybrid Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (HUASB) reactor. The reactor with a working volume of 5.9 L and plastic cut rings as packing media was operated at varying Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) for a period of 110 days. While the COD removal varied from 75–86%, the BOD removal was in the range of 70–91%. Methane content in the biogas was 62±3%. VFA levels fluctuating between 100 and 186 mg/L (as acetate) did not pose operational problems such as souring of the reactor. During the treatment, nutrient levels exhibited an increasing trend. HUASB system could be designed with very short HRT of 3.3 hours, which will reduce the treatment cost significantly. It appears to be a promising alternative for the treatment of domestic wastewater in developing countries like India

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    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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    Google Scholar 

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    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahring, B.K.; Angelidaki, I., (1991). Monitoring and controlling the biogas process. Proceeding at 8th. international conference on anaerobic digestion. Sendai, Japan, 40–45.

  • Angenent, L.T.; Sung, S., (2001). Development of anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR), A novel anaerobic treatment system. Wat. Res. 35, 1739–1747.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodik, I.; Kratochvil, K.; Gaspirkova.; Hutnan, M., (2003). Nitrogen removal in an anaerobic baffled filter reactor with aerobic post treatment. Biores. Technol., 86, 79–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodik, L.; Herdova, B.; Kratochvil, K., (2000). The application of anaerobic filter for municipal wastewater treatment. Proceedings of the 20th. international conference of the Slovak society of chemical engineering, 54(3), 159–164.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CPCB and MoEF. (2001). Environmental improvement of waterways in Chennai-Report. Ministry of Environment and Forest, India.

  • Chernicharo, C.A.L.; Machado, R.M.G., (1998). Feasibility of UASB/AF system for domestic sewage treatment in developing countries. Wat. Sci. Tech., 38, 325–333.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coates, J.; Colleran, E., (1990). Effect of initial agitation on the start up and operational performance of anaerobic hybrid reactors treating a synthetic feed. Process Biochem., 10, 162–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmitwalli, T.A.; Sklyar, V.; Zeeman, G.; Lettinga, G., (2000a). Low temperature pretreatment of domestic sewage in an anaerobic hybrid or an anaerobic filter reactor. Biores. Technol., 52, 233–239.

    Google Scholar 

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    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guiot, S.R.; Van den Berg, L., (1984). Dynamic performance of an anaerobic reactor combining an upflow sludge blanket and a filter for the treatment of sugar waste. Proceedings of the 39th annual Purdue Industrial Waste Conference. Lafayette, 705–717.

  • Guiot, S.R.; Van den Berg, L., (1985). Performance of an upflow anaerobic reactor combining a sludge blanket and a filter treating sugar waste. Biotechnol and Bioeng., 27, 800–806.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanndel, V.C.A.; Lettinga, G., (1994). Anaerobic sewage treatment-a practical guide for regions with a hot climate. Willey publisher, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haskoning. (1989). Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater under tropical conditions — Final report. Royal Dutch Consulting Engineers and Architects.

  • Heertjes, P.M.; Van der Meer, R.R., (1978). Dynamics of liquid flow in an upflow reactor used for anaerobic treatment of wastewater. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 20, 1577–1594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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    Google Scholar 

  • Langenhoff, A.M.; Stucky, D.C., (2000). Treatment of dilute wastewater using an anaerobic baffled reactor: Effect of low temperature. Water Res., 34(15), 3867–3875.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lettinga, G.; Vinken, J.N., (1980). Feasibility of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process for the treatment of low strength water. Proceedings of the 35th Purdue industrial waste conference. 625–634.

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    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ligero, P.; Soto, M., (2002). Sludge granulation during anaerobic treatment of pre-hydrolyzed domestic wastewater. Water SA., 28(3), 307–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pind, P.F.; Angelidaki, I.; Ahring, B.K., (2002). Dynamics of the anaerobic process: Effects of volatile fatty acids. Biotech. Bioeng., 82(7), 791–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pind, P.F.; Angelidaki, I.; Ahring, B.K., (1999). The use of VFA measurement as process indicators in anaerobic reactors treating manure. Proceedings of the II international symposium on anaerobic digestion of solid waste. Barcelona, 41–44.

  • Rajesh banu, J., Kaliappan, S. and Diter Beck. (2006a) Treatment of sago wastewater in hybrid anaerobic reactor. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada., 41, 56–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajesh banu, J.; Kaliappan, S.; Diter Beck. (2006b). High rate anaerobic treatment of Sago wastewater using HUASB with PUF as carrier. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 3(1), 73–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schellinkhout, A.; Collazos, C.J., (1991). Full scale application of the UASB technology for sewage treatment. Proceedings of the 6th International IAWPRC symposium. Sao Saulo, Brazil.

  • Seghezzo, L. (1997). Kinetics and structure of anaerobic granular sludge from EGSB reactors. M.Sc thesis. Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivayogimath, C.B.; Ramanujam, T.K., (1999). Treatment of distillery spent wash by hybrid UASB reactor. Bioprocess Engineering. 21, 255–259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Standard Methods. (1998). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewaters. APHA, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stronach, S.M.; Rudd, T.; Lester, J.N., (1986). Anaerobic digestion process in the industrial wastewater treatment. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tilche, A.; Vieira, S.M.M., (1991). Discussion report on reactor design of anaerobic filters and sludge bed reactors. Water Sci. Tech., 24, 193–206.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Last, A.R.M.; Lettinga, G., (1992). Anaerobic treatment of domestic sewage under moderate climatic (Dutch) conditions using upflow reactors at increased superficial velocities. Water Sci. Tech., 25, 167–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viera, S.M.M.; Garcia, A.D., (1991). Sewage treatment by UASB reactor, operation results and recommendations for design and utilization. Presented at the 6th. International IAWPRC Symposium. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

  • Wang, Q.H.; Kuninobu, M.; Ogawa H.I; Kato, Y., (1999). Degradation of volatile fatty acids in highly efficient anaerobic digestion. Biomass Bioenergy., 16, 407–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wheatley, A., (1991). Anaerobic digestion: A waste treatment technology. Elsevier Science publishers Ltd, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Centre for Zero Emission Technology Sung Kyun Kwan University, Korea

    J. R. Banu Ph.D. (teaching post doctoral fellow) & I. T. Yeom (professor)

  2. Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) Anna University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, 600025, India

    S. Kaliappan B.E, M.E. PhD (professor and Director)

Authors
  1. J. R. Banu Ph.D.
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  2. S. Kaliappan B.E, M.E. PhD
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  3. I. T. Yeom
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Correspondence to I. T. Yeom.

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Banu, J.R., Kaliappan, S. & Yeom, I.T. Treatment of domestic wastewater using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 4, 363–370 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326295

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326295

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