Black water treatment by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor: a pilot study

Author(s)

Miranda Slompo, Nathalie Dyane ^[1] ; Quartaroli, Larissa ^[2] ; Zeeman, Grietje ^[3] ; Ribeiro da Silva, Gustavo Henrique ^[2] ; Daniel, Luiz Antonio ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Hydraul & Sanitat, EESC USP, 400 Trabalhador Sao Carlense Ave, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo State FEB UNESP, Dept Environm & Civil Engn, 14-01 Engenheiro Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube Ave, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[3] LeAF, POB 500, NL-6700 AM Wageningen - Netherlands

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; v. 80, n. 8, p. 1505-1511, OCT 15 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Decentralized sanitary wastewater treatment has become a viable and sustainable alternative, especially for developing countries and small communities. Besides, effluents may present variations in chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total nitrogen values. This study describes the feasibility of using a pilot upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to treat wastewater with different organic loads (COD), using black water (BW) and sanitary wastewater, in addition to its potential for preserving nutrients for later recovery and/or reuse. The UASB reactor was operated continuously for 95 weeks, with a hydraulic retention time of 3 days. In Phase 1, the reactor treated simulated BW and achieved 77% CODtotal removal. In Phase 2, treating only sanitary wastewater, the CODtotal removal efficiency was 60%. Phase 3 treated simulated BW again, and CODtotal removal efficiency was somewhat higher than in Phase 1, reaching 81%. In Phase 3, the removal of pathogens was also evaluated: the efficiency was 1.96 log for Escherichia coli and 2.13 log for total coliforms. The UASB reactor was able to withstand large variations in the organic loading rate (0.09-1.49 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)), in continuous operation mode, maintaining a stable organic matter removal. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50351-4 - Recovering nutrients and carbon from concentrated black water: a sustainable decentralized approach for wastewater treatment
• Grantee: Luiz Antonio Daniel
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/04594-8 - Evaluation of processes of removal and inactivation of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and indicator microorganisms in blackwater previously treated sequentially by UASB reactor, photobioreactor and flotation
• Grantee: Nathalie Dyane Miranda Slompo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/13581-5 - 15th International Specialised Conferences on Small Water and Wastewater Systems and 7th Specialized Conference on Resources Oriented Sanitation
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Ribeiro da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Meeting - Abroad