Effect of carriers on the performance of anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor treating synthetic municipal wastewater

Kasturi Dutta, Cheng Yu Tsai, Wen Hsing Chen, Jih-Gaw Lin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, effects of granular activated carbon (GAC) and natural zeolite as attached carriers for microbes on anaerobic treatment of synthetic municipal wastewater were evaluated in laboratory scale anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors (ASBBRs). An anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) and three ASBBRs, individually named ASBR-1 without any carrier (control), ASBBR-2 with GAC, ASBBR-3 with zeolite, ASBBR-4 with both GAC and zeolite, were operated at 2.5d HRT with non-fat dry milk to mimic municipal wastewater. The four reactors were successfully started up and attained steady state within two weeks of operation. Total COD and soluble COD removal efficiencies of more than 93% and 98%, respectively, were observed in the four reactors during steady-state. The average biogas productions for ASBR-1, ASBBR-2, ASBBR-3 and ASBBR-4 were 229, 246, 238 and 278ml/d, respectively. Addition of carriers improved both the COD removal efficiency and biogas production. Apparently GAC improved COD removal efficiency and zeolite improved gas production. SEM results suggested higher number of biomass attached to GAC than zeolite.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)84-88
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
Volume95
Issue numberPA
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2014

Keywords

  • Anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor
  • Biogas
  • GAC
  • Municipal wastewater
  • Zeolite

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