A simplified analysis of granule behavior in ASBR and UASB reactors treating low-strength synthetic wastewater

This work presents an analysis of the changes observed in granule characteristics of sludge in the treatment of synthetic wastewater at a concentration of about 500 mgCOD/L in batch, fed-batch (ASBR) and continuous (UASB) bench-scale reactors under similar experimental conditions. Physical and microbiological properties of the granules were characterized as average particle size and sedimentation time and by optical and epifluorescence microscopy. Several samples were analyzed in order to identify the morphologies. Granules from sequencing batch and fed-batch reactors, either with or without mechanical mixing, did not undergo any physical or microbiological changes. However, during the experiment granules from the UASB reactor agglomerated due to the formation and accumulation of a viscous material, probably of microbial origin, when operated at low superficial velocities (0.072, 0.10 and 0.19 m/h). When the superficial velocity was increased to 8.0-10.0 m/h by means of liquid-phase recirculation, the granules from the UASB reactor underwent flocculation and the microbiological characteristics changed in such a way that the equilibrium of microbial diversity in the inoculum was not maintained. As a result, the only reactor that maintained efficiency and good solids retention during the assays was the ASBR, showing that there is a correlation between maintenance of microbial diversity and operating mode in the case of anaerobic treatment of low-strength wastewaters

Tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura em reator anaeróbio operado em batelada sequencial Treatment of swine wastewater in anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

Neste estudo avaliou-se o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio operado em batelada sequencial, em escala piloto, com volume total de 280 L, no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas aplicadas no reator foram de 4,42; 5,27; 9,33 e 11,79 g DQOtotal (L d)-1. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal, sólidos suspensos totais (SST) e sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV) variaram de 56 a 87%. O nitrogênio total Kjedahl (NTK), fósforo total (P-total) e magnésio (Mg) foram removidos com eficiências médias de 26 a 39%. As produções volumétricas de metano variaram de 0,50 a 0,64 L CH4 (L reator d)-1 e não foram observadas diferenças significativas. As relações sólidos voláteis/sólidos totais (SV/ST) do lodo de tal reator variaram de 0,74 a 0,58. As maiores concentrações médias de nutrientes no lodo do reator foram para o nitrogênio, fósforo, ferro e cálcio, com valores de 30.610 a 64.400, 1.590 a 9.870, 6.180 a 8.700 e 1.180 a 6.760 mg kg-1 base seca, respectivamente.<br>In the present study, we evaluated an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor, in pilot scale and with a total volume of 280 L, for the treatment of swine wastewater. The organic loading rates applied in such reactor were 4.42; 5.27; 9.33 and 11.79 g CODtotal (L d)-1. The average efficiencies of removal of CODtotal total solids suspension (TSS) and volatile suspension solids (VSS) varied from 56 to 87%. The nutrients total Kjedahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (total P) and Mg were removed with average efficiencies from 26 to 39%. The volumetric methane productions varied from 0.50 to 0.64 L CH4 (L reactor d)-1 and did not present significant differences. The VS/TS relations of the aforementioned reactor's sludge varied from 0.74 to 0.58. The highest mean concentrations of nutrients in the reactor sludge were those of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and calcium, with values from 30.610 to 64.400, 1.590 to 9.870, 6.180 to 8.700 and 1.180 to 6.760 mg kg-1 base dry, respectively