Performance Study of UASB and EGSB Reactor for Industrial Waste Water Treatment

Abstract

The main objective of the project on “Performance study of UASB (Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ) reactor and EGSB (Expanded Granular Sludge Blanket ) reactor for industrial waste water treatment” of production of effective COD reduction for waste water. The objective of this work to study the application of UASB and EGSB reactors inoculated with flocculent biomass for the degradation of textile waste water at mesophilic temperature. In order to study the influence of the pH , alkalinity, VFA (Volatile Fatty Acid) , and the organic load on the both reactor behaviors. Initially the reactors were fed with waste water from textile industry . It’ s initial COD was 1305 mg/l . During EGSB reactor experiment the initial COD was 1150 mg/l so organic load (glucose and milk powder) was added for increased COD up to 1300 mg/l. In such project I was also studied the effect of pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA)on both reactors operation. It was noted that at high concentration of volatile fatty acid affect on methanogenic activity and it also affect on biogas production because survival of methanogenic bacteria are difficult at higher volatile fatty acid concentration. In such project municipal sewage used for develops the anaerobic bacteria. The sewage sludge from the sludge digestion tank used as seeding material for the study, which was obtained from the Pirana sewage treatment plant. The raw textile waste water for the study was collected from Arvind textile mills. Laboratory analysis were carried for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, Volatile fatty acid (VFA), Alkalinity, MLVSS and TSS. The start up of experiment was performed continuously by running the UASB & EGSB reactor at a temperature of 29 0 C and 35 0 C respectively. During the experimental programme the pH observed to be in neutral range. During the project 70 % COD reduction was achieved in UASB reactor and 90 % COD reduction was achieved in EGSB reactor. It was also observed that methanogenic activity higher at pH between 7 to 8.25. EGSB reactor is good for COD reduction as compared to UASB reactor but economically UASB reactor is better than EGSB reactor because in EGSB reactor operation continuously supply of electricity is required for waste water recycling.