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Blanket Reactor
S −2 + M +2 → MS
Doubling Time Cell Yield Cell Activity
days g VSS g-1 COD g COD g-1 VSS
Active Sludge (sugar)
Aerobic Bacteria 0.030 0.40 57.8
Acidification (sugar)
Fermentative Bacteria 0.125 0.14 39.6
Methanogenesis
Autotrophic (H2) 0.5 0.07 19.6
Acetoclastic
When compared (acetate)
with aerobic bacteria anaerobic bacteria have higher doubling
time, and acetogenic and methanogenic
Methanosarcina 1.5 bacteria have still
0.04 higher biomass doubling
11.6
time – indicates requirement of higher7.0
Methanosaete SRT 0.02 5.0
Cell yield is lower for anaerobic bacteria and when compared with acidogenic
bacteria, other anarobic bacteria have lower biomass yield – indicates sludge
generation is lower and acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria can upset the
process very easily
Anaerobic treatment process
Mesophillic or thermophillic process
35±3°C (mesophillic)
55±5°C (thermophillic)
Can be wet process or a dry process
Homogenous mobile slurry of <10% solids – wet process
Heterogenous fixed bed of solids flushed with liquid (>20% solids)
– land fills and invessel anaerobic composting are examples
First generation anaerobic reactors – conventional anaerobic
digesters like biogas plants
2nd generation anaerobic treatment processes (high rate
processes)
Attached growth processes – fixed film, expanded/fluidized bed
Suspended growth – CSTR, contact process, UASB, EGSB, etc.
Hybrid reactors and two and multiphase reactors
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
Reactor (UASB)
Developed in the Netherlands in late 1970s by Prof. Gatze
Lettinga
Suitable for high strength wastewater – also suitable for
domestic sewage treatment in warm climates
Differs from other anaerobic reactors in
• Existence of granular sludge
– sludge granules with high mechanical strength and good
sedimentation properties (30-80 m/hr.)
– represent dense and compact balanced microbial community
with high methanogenic activity (0.5-2 COD/VSS.day)
– Resistant to toxic shocks
• Internal 3-phase GSL (gas-solid-liquid) separator system
biogas
gas
cap
Effluent settler
Effluent
gas Recycle
bubble
sludge
granule
Sludge
Bed
Influent
UASB
• Reactor zone
– Sludge bed zone
– Sludge blanket zone
– Contain granular or flocculant sludge
• Settling zone
– 3-phase separator
– Inclusive of Gas system and Effluent system
• Also includes
– influent distribution system
• Flow division and distribution boxes
• Distribution tubes and necessary pipings and fittings
– Sludge discharge system
– Provisions for sampling
STP incorporating UASB
UASB Reactor
Basis for Design
There are no universal design models and no clear
systematized guidelines for the design
• Organic loading rate based approach
– Followed when COD is 5000-15000 mg/L or more
– Typical organic loading rate range: 4-12 kg COD /m3.day (average
loading is 10 kg COD/m3.day - for expanded granular sludge bed,
EGSB, it is 20 kg COD/m3.day)
• Upflow velocity based approach
– Followed when COD is <5000 mg/L
– Typical upflow velocity is 0.6-0.9 m/hr. (Volumetric hydraulic loading
rate is < 5 m3/m3.day and HRT is 4-12 hours)
• HRT, Concentration in sludge blanket and sludge bed,
Minimum SRT required (temperature dependent) and
Velocity through aparture are also considered
Volumetric loading rate
• In case of domestic sewage, when temperature is
>15°C, if sufficient alkalinity is available, organic loading
can be >1.5 kg/m3.day (2.5 to 3.5 kg/m3.day) and HRT
can be >4-6 to 16 hours