Anaerobic Treatment of Eucalyptus Fiberboard Manufacturing Wastewater by a Hybrid USBF Lab-Scale Reactor

Abstract

A hybrid upflow sludge bed-filter anaerobic reactor (USBF) at lab-scale was used for the treatment of eucalyptus fiberboard manufacturing wastewater at 37ºC. A physical-chemical pre - treatment adding a neutral polyelectrolyte was applied to remove inert solids present in the wastewater that may accumulate in the reactor. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removals around 94% were obtained at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 14.8 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹, corresponding to a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days. About 70% of COD was converted to methane, giving a volumetric yield of 2.6 m³ CH₄ m⁻³ reactor d⁻¹ and about 7.8 m³ CH₄ m⁻³ wastewater. The biogas methane content was approximately 53%.