Characterization of the biomass of a hybrid anaerobic reactor (HAR) with two types of support material during the treatment of the coffee wastewater

• Published in: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 495 - 504
• Main Authors: Silva, Vivian Galdino da, Campos, Cláudio Milton Montenegro, Pereira, Erlon Lopes, Silva, Júlia Ferreira da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar) 01-06-2013
• Subjects: Agricultural microbiology; agro-industrial wastewater treatment; anaerobic process; endogenous; rural sanitation
• ISSN: 1516-8913; 1678-4324; 1516-8913; 1678-4324
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-89132013000300018

This study investigated the microbiology of a hybrid anaerobic reactor (HAR) in the removal of pollutant loads. This reactor had the same physical structure of an UASB reactor, however with minifilters inside containing two types of support material: expanded clay and gravel. Two hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 24h and 18h were evaluated at steady-state conditions, resulting in organic loading rates (OLR) of 0.032 and 0.018 kgDBO sub(5)m super(--3) d- super(-1) and biological organic loading rates (BOLR) of 0,0015 and 0.001 kgDBO sub(5)kgSVT super(-1)d super(1), respectively. The decrease in concentration of organic matter in the influent resulted an endogenous state of the biomass in the reactor. The expanded clay was the best support material for biofilm attachment.