Performance evaluation of integrated anaerobic and aerobic reactors for treatment of real textile wastewater: Integrated anaerobic and aerobic reactors for textile wastewater treatment

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) 2022, Vol.19 (10), p.10325-10336
• Main Authors: Saleem, M. U., Khan, S. J., Shahzad, H. M. A., Zeshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Original Paper; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-021-03830-0

A hybrid anaerobic–aerobic treatability of real textile wastewater was investigated by using a lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) coupled with a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The performance of the integrated system was determined under various operational conditions. In phase I of the study, the UASB reactor was operated and optimized on real textile wastewater. The UASB was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 48 h in a semi-continuous mode with 12-h feeding and 12-h non-feeding cycle. Volatile fatty acid to alkalinity ratio was kept in the range of 0.42–0.72, while pH was strictly maintained between 6.8 and 7.2 under mesophilic conditions (35  ∘ C). In phase II of the study, SBR was coupled with a UASB reactor and operated on real textile wastewater. The SBR was operated at an HRT of 6 h and solids retention time of 20 days. The integrated system was optimized with maximum removal efficiencies of 98% for chemical oxygen demand, 94% for color, 93% for total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and 89% for orthophosphate phosphorus. The results indicated that the integrated system is robust and flexible for the treatment of textile wastewater. Graphical abstract