APPLICATION OF THE ANAEROBIC SEQUENCING BATCH REACTORS WITH FIXED FILM IN THE TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CONTAINING HIGH SULFATE CONCENTRATION

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses the potential for use of pilot-scale anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors (ASBBR) for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing high sulfate concentration. The pilot-scale ASBBR reactor (total volume= 1.2 m3) containing biomass immobilized in inert support (mineral coal) was operated at sulfate loading rates varying from 0.15 to 1.90 kgSO4-2/cycle (cycle of 48 h) corresponding to sulfate concentrations of 0.25 to 3.0 gSO4-2.L-1. Domestic sewage and ethanol were utilized as electron donors for sulfate reduction. The mean sulfate removal efficiencies remained in the range of 88 to 92% in the several sulfate concentrations obtained from 92 operational cycles. As post-treatment unit for the generated effluents by the sulfate reduction was used another reactor ASBBR in pilot-scale (total volume=385 L) with similar inert support for biomass immobilization. The mean COD removal (mean influent=1450 mg.L-1) achieved 88% and total sulfide concentrations (H2S, HS−, S2−) remained in the range of 41 to 71 mg.L-1 during the 35 operational cycles of 48 h. The results demonstrated that the use of ASBBR reactors is an alternative potential for the sulfate removal and as post-treatment of generated effluent.