Field-scale anaerobic baffled reactor for domestic wastewater treatment: effect of dynamic operating conditions

A 45 m3/d field-scale anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) was studied for its performance to remove carbonaceous organic content and suspended solids under a dynamic hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and organic loading rate (OLR). Sludge granulation effect was also assessed with and without sand as a bio-carrier aided with poly aluminium chloride. ABR was subjected to a significant variation in HLR (0.26 to 7.72 m3/m2.d) and OLR (0.03 to 8 kg COD/m3.d). Tracer study showed flow-through time was 50% of theoretical hydraulic retention time. The initial compartments of ABR were more effective for the removal of organic carbon. An overall CODTotal removal of 60 to 90% was possible for OLR in the range 1 to 8 kg COD/m3.d irrespective of low/high HLR. OLR dominated the performance of ABR compared to HLR. The compartmentalized nature of ABR was visualized through a two-phase system of anaerobic digestion as alkalinity increased while VFA decreased from the first to last compartment even under dynamic conditions. Sludge granulation with sand and PAC increased the size of granule from 629 to 1,471 μm, decreased sludge depth by 20% and enhanced CODTotal removal within a month. ABR is sturdy to sustain low/high HLR with low/high OLR conditions without impairing CODTotal removal efficiency significantly.