Application of Aerobic Granular Sludge in Polishing the UASB Effluent

• Published in: Environmental technology 2005-12, Vol.26 (12), p.1327-1334
• Main Authors: Zhang, L. L., Zhang, B., Huang, Y. F., Cai, W. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACCLIMATIZATION; AEROBIC GRANULATION; Aerobiosis; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Organic Chemicals - metabolism; Oxygen - chemistry; Oxygen - metabolism; Particle Size; Pollution; POST-TREATMENT; SBR; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage - microbiology; Time Factors; UASB EFFLUENT; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewaters; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593332608618611

Stable aerobic granules were successfully developed in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with glucose and sodium acetate as the main carbon sources, and then they were acclimatized to polish the effluent from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. It was found that more than 95% chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 85% suspended solids (SS) in the UASB effluent could be removed by an aerobic granular SBR as a post treatment unit. The performance of the SBR was stable over the whole experimental period. At an organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.5 to 5.4 g l −1 d −1 , the acclimatized aerobic granules had an average diameter of 3.5 to 6.0 mm and a minimal settling velocity of 72 m h −1 . The biomass concentration in the SBR was as high as 8.4 g (dry weight) l −1 . This study showed for the first time that aerobic granular sludge in SBR would be an effective means to polish the effluent from UASB reactor.