Open AccessFeasibility of a pulsed sequencing batch reactor with anaerobic aggregated biomass for the treatment of low strength wastewaters
Author(s) -
A. G. Brito,
A. C. Rodrigues,
L. F. Melo
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
water science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.406
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1996-9732
pISSN - 0273-1223
DOI - 10.1016/s0273-1223(96)00896-7
Subject(s) - sequencing batch reactor , biomass (ecology) , anaerobic exercise , waste management , environmental science , pulp and paper industry , bioreactor , chemistry , sewage treatment , environmental engineering , biology , engineering , ecology , physiology , organic chemistry
This study concerns an assessment of a SBR operation that associates anaerobic aggregated biomass with a pulsed action during the reaction phase, a system named Pulsed Sequencing Batch Reactor (P-SBR). The system uses a diaphragm pump as a pulsator unit to increase the liquid-solid contact, in order to avoid dead zones and possible external mass transfer resistance. A preliminary study of the operation of the reactor was performed with a low strength synthetic wastewater with a COD near 1000 mg.l-1 and a sub-optimal temperature of 22°C. A removal efficiency of 60-70% was attained after 5 and 6 hours of reaction time. The respective organic loads were 5-6 kg COD.m-3.day-1, thus supporting the feasibility of the P-SBR system for wastewater treatment in such conditions. The results also indicate that a ratio of 1.8¿ between the swept volume delivered by the pump and the reactor volume was adequate to promote a flow turbulence in the sludge blanket and that a redox potential of near -400 mV was readily created by anaerobic bacteria after the reactor filling step