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

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 kgDBO5m-3d-1 and biological organic loading rates (BOLR) of 0,0015 and 0.001 kgDBO5kgSVT- 1d¹, 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.

Start-up and steady-state conditions of an Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (AHR) using mini-filters composed with two types of support medium operating under low loading rates

The present work aimed at studying the operational parameters of an Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (AHR) removing organic matter of coffee wastewater with low concentration. The AHR was built similar to an UASB reactor, however the interior was filled with mini-filters composed by two types of support materials: expanded clay and rolled pebble. Three start-ups were accomplished in order to achieve the stationary state (steady-state). Three hydraulic retention times were appraised: 28.5; 24.0 and 18.0 h, obtaining a volumetric loading rate (VLR) of 0.70; 0.56; 0.54 kg COD m-3 d-1 and a biological organic loading rate (BOLR) of 0.0156; 0.0103 and 0.01213 kg BOD5 kg TVS-1 d-1. Due to the decrease in the concentration of organic matter in the influent, the endogen process started to occur on the biomass lowering the methanogenic process.

Monitoramento de parâmetros físicos, qúimicos e biológicos em um reator anaeróbio híbrido (RAH) em escala piloto, tratando água residuária do café produzido por via úmida / Monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological parameters of a hibrid anaerobic reactor (HAR) in pilot scale, treating wastewater from wet coffee production

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de fornecer informações a respeito da investigação experimental realizada na estação piloto no Núcleo de Estudos em Cafeicultura (NECAF/UFLA), para tratamento de água residuária do café (ARC) especificamente, o monitoramento de um Reator Anaeróbio Híbrido (RAH), utilizando minifiltros preenchidos com dois tipos de meio suporte (argila expandida e seixo rolado). O RAH possuía fundo falso e foi utilizado como inóculo lodo anaeróbio de Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reator (reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo) - UASB (escala-plena), de esgoto doméstico. O sistema foi monitorado por meio de parâmetros operacionais e de análises químicas e físico-químicas. Foi constatado que a fase experimental em que se deu o experimento dificultou a eficiência do RAH por ter sido submetido a cargas inferiores às previstas, uma vez que o efluente passava por tratamento em outras unidades, minimizando assim, a concentração orgânica a ser tratada. O RAH apresentou concentrações afluentes médias de: 484; 168 e 92 mg DQOtot L-1 e concentrações efluentes médias de 344; 159 e 90 mg DQOtot L-1, para os tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 28,5; 23,7 e 18,0 horas, respectivamente. O RAH apresentou equilíbrio com relação aos parâmetros medidos e boa estabilidade. O efluente analisado não apresentou riscos de salinidade, uma vez que a CE ficou na faixa, entre 0,70 e 3,0 dS m-1 e os SDT, entre 450 a 2000 mg L-1. Quanto à sodificação, a Razão de Adsorção de Sódio (RAS) ficou entre 0 e 3 e a CE>0,7 dS m-1, podendo ser reutilizado para irrigação da maioria das culturas e solos.

The purpose of this work is to supply information regarding to the experimental investigation carried out in a pilot scale system, located at Coffee Study Research Center (NECAF/UFLA). The research focused mainly on a Hybrid Anaerobic Reactor (HAR) operating with mini-filters filled with two types of physical support (expanded clay and pebble "round quartz stone"). The HAR used a three-phase-separator; and during the start-up, sludge from a full-scale UASB reactor treating domestic wastewater was utilized. The experimental results did not show great efficiency due to the removal of the organic matter in other treatment units located before the HAR, minimizing in this way the concentration of organic matter to be treated in the HAR. The HAR presented an average affluent concentration of: 484, 168, and 92 mg CODtot L-1, and an average effluent concentration of: 344, 159, and 90 mg CODtot L-1. The HAR also presented good balance in relation to the parameters measured, as well as good stability.