Evaluation of physical-chemical performance of an UASB reactor in removing pollutants of pig wastewater

  • Erlon Lopes Pereira Universidade Federal de Lavras
  • Cláudio Milton Montenegro Campos Universidade Federal de Lavras
  • Fabricio Moterani UFLA
Keywords: Biogas, BOD5, CODtotal, Ripley alkalinity, Solids removal

Abstract

Attention has been given by governmental agencies concerning the swine production in confined areas, due to the pollution potential and problems related to epidemiology. Thus, anaerobic treatment system, similar to the one applied in this research, has became very important and raised interest for large scale production and field application. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the UASB reactor behavior considering a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9.7 hours, the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 2.5 m3 m-3 d-1, Organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.77 kg m3 m-3 d-1 and the average biogas production of 437.08 L d-1. It was found in this work, that the alkalinity in the affluent and effluent were 1,383 mg L-1 and 1,442 mg L-1, respectively. The Ripley alkalinity in the affluent and effluent presented a relation of IA/PA of 1,5 e 1,7, respectively. The CODtotal concentration in the affluent and effluent was 2,705 mg L-1 and 1,849 mg L-1, respectively. The BOD5 concentration in the affluent and effluent was 707 mg L-1 and 317 mg L-1, respectively. The total phosphorus concentration was 1.07 mg L-1 and 1.11 mg L-1 and the concentration of total Kjeldahl nitrogen was 69 mg L-1 and 63 mg L-1, respectively. The CODtotal/BOD5 relation was 0.41 and the efficiency of total, fix and volatile solids removal was 40%, 28%, 48%, respectively. The treatment system presented a good performance and therefore the operational parameters applied could be also useful for large scale systems.

Author Biographies

Erlon Lopes Pereira, Universidade Federal de Lavras
Graduando em Engenharia Agrícola na Universidade Federal de Lavras, bolsista PIBIC/CNPq, área de Tratamento de Efluentes Agroindustriais e Fertirrigação.
Cláudio Milton Montenegro Campos, Universidade Federal de Lavras
Engenheiro Civil pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Mestre em Saneamento, Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. PhD. em Environmental Engineering pela Universidade de Newcastle Upon Tyne. Professor Associado II da Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA). Orientador do projeto, pesquisa nas áreas de hidráulica e saneamento, anaerobiose e fertirrigação.
Fabricio Moterani, UFLA
Bacharel e Licenciado em Biologia pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC-MG). Pós graduado em Gestão Ambiental. Mestrando em Engenharia Agrícola, área Tratamento e Reaproveitamento de Efluentes Agroindustriais pela Universidade Federal de Lavras.
Published
29/04/2010
Section
Papers