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Sulfate is of great importance in anaerobic digestion as its addition can help control the microbial community. In this study, the effect of sulfuric acid addition on the performance of a UASB reactor fed with hydrolyzed starch was investigated. The total organic carbon (TOC), Fe, SO42− removal and methane production were monitored under various chemical oxygen demand (COD) to SO42− ratios, hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and organic loading rates (OLRs). When the HRT was 16 h, and the OLR was equal to 2 g COD/LUASB-day, methane production was 0.24 L CH4/LUASB-day. After the addition of sulfuric acid, TOC removal reached 95%, and the population of Ruminococcus sp. that utilize soluble carbohydrates increased by 19.7%. Nitrogen removal was less than 25%, while the population of Ignavibacterium sp. accounted for 2.3%. When the HRT, OLR and COD/SO42− ratios were equal to 16 h, 2 g COD/LUASB-d and 3.72, respectively, methane production was 0.267 L CH4/LUASB-day. When the OLR increased to 5.94 g, the COD/LUASB-day and COD/SO42− ratios were equal to 12.5, and methane production was three times higher (0.84 L CH4/LUASB-day), with a methane content in the produced biogas greater than 70% due to the increased amount of Methanosaeta sp. and direct interspecies electron transfer. Sulfate addition increased the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio sp., accounting for 9.9% and an iron accumulation exceeding 98.0%. This study indicates that appropriate sulfate concentrations in the feed in combination with the presence of iron in the UASB lead to enhanced methane yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater management remains a major challenge in developing countries due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, making the need for economically viable and efficient technologies that can be sustained by emerging economies imperative. The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor represents an efficient and low-cost technology that produces by-products from which valuable resources can be recovered. This study assessed the energy recovery potential in the form of electricity from biogas and sludge by-products produced by a full-scale UASB reactor. Biogas production rate and composition were monitored to determine the biogas energy recovery potential. Dehydrated sludge from sludge drying beds was likewise quantified and characterised for its elemental composition, immediate composition, gross calorific value and net calorific value to estimate sludge energy recovery potential. The average daily biogas production was found to be 611 ± 275 Nm3/d, with 65% methane in the biogas output. Average sludge dry matter production was determined to be 358.24 TS kg/d. The net energy recovery potential was estimated to be 534.1 MWh/yr, 36% more than the yearly energy demand (392.7 MWh/yr) of the entire plant. Conservative energy recovery at a UASB-based municipal wastewater treatment facility could serve as a self-supply energy option to support its operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor wastewater management remains a critical health and environmental challenge in most developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa due to the lack of adequate infrastructure for collection and treatment. This study evaluated the performance and methane production of a full-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor of capacity 18000 m3/d, with post-treatment unit: trickling filters followed by final settling tanks for municipal wastewater treatment in Ghana. Data was collected on operational conditions and physicochemical parameters of wastewater (influent and effluent) over a period of 35 weeks in 2021 (from January to August). The influent biochemical oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand (BOD:COD) ratio was 0.58 ± 0.16, indicating the presence of highly biodegradable compounds in the sewage. Operational conditions for the UASB reactors were observed to be within the optimal range for anaerobic systems, with an applied organic loading rate of 1.30 ± 0.79 kgCOD/m3/d. Generally, Plant performance was satisfactory with carbon removal at 93% for COD and 98% for BOD. Biogas yield was 0.2 m3/kgCOD removed, culminating in an average biogas production rate of 831.6 ± 292.7 m3/d. Average methane composition was 64.7 ± 11.9% of the biogas output, whilst an estimated 35% of the methane generated remained dissolved in the UASB effluent. The UASB reactor presents an efficient technology that can be implemented in developing countries for effective and sustainable wastewater management.

This study is focused on the effect of biogas recirculation with hydrogen sulfide removal on anaerobic treatment of sulfur-enriched synthetic wastewater in a UASB reactor. The presence of hydrogen sulfide in biogas causes problems in its further energy recovery while sulfides inhibit the anaerobic process. The reactor was gradually loaded with sulfates and their effect on the reactor operation was monitored. At the same time, external absorption of hydrogen sulfide from biogas with absorbent regeneration was operated. The results show that low concentrations of added sulfates support biogas production. At the sulfate concentration of 125 mg l−1, biogas production increased by approximately 2 l d−1. However, further increasing of the amount of sulfates in the substrate led to the opposite effect. At twice the amount of sulfates, the biogas production decrease by 1 l d−1 and its adverse effects on the removal of N-NH4, NC and P-PO4 were observed. Biogas recirculation through the absorption column ensured a decrease in the hydrogen sulfide concentration from 19 960 ppm to 4 030 ppm and an increase in the methane content from 59.2 % to 83 % and also a decrease in the sulfides concentration in the reactor. From the measured data it can be concluded that this method reduces sulfides inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This work investigates the anaerobic co-digestion of a mixture of food waste and domestic wastewater (0.09, v/v) using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to generate renewable energy in form of biogas. The reactor was operated under the conditions of mesophilic temperature (35 °C), pH 7.2, and 10 days of hydraulic retention time (HRT). The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and the methane content were 80 ± 1.3% and 56%, respectively, when the reactor was operated continuously at the organic loading rate of 2 g COD/L/d in 2 days of operation, while the COD removal efficiency started decreasing and reached 61 ± 1.7% after 10 days, with the methane content of 37%. The deterioration of reactor efficiency on converting organic matter to methane was attributed to the accumulation of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) onto the sludge. To overcome the physical and metabolic inhibition by LCFAs, the application of intermittent feeding mode (48 h feed and 48 h feedless) was chosen and applied at different organic loading rates (OLRs; 2–4.5 g COD/L/d) to evaluate the reactor performance in terms of COD removal, methane content, accumulation of LCFAs and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The COD removal efficiency and methane content were 82 ± 1.1%, 75 ± 0.9%, and 62 ± 1.5% and 58%, 56%, and 51% at the OLR of 2, 3, and 4.5 g COD/L/d, respectively. The 48 h feed/48 h feedless cycle seemed a promising alternative to treat real food wastewater. However, further studies are still necessary to better evaluate the application of intermittent feeding to treat different mixtures of food waste and domestic wastewater at higher organic loading rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium phosphate (CaP) granules were discovered in the anaerobic treatment of vacuum collected black water (BW), using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology. This allows simultaneous recovery of CaP granules and methane in the UASB reactor. However, the role of BW composition on CaP granulation is not yet understood. Moreover, CaP granulation was not observed in previous research on anaerobic treatment of BW, although similar treatment conditions were applied. Therefore, this study shows specifically the influence of bicarbonate and calcium fluctuations in BW on the phosphorus accumulation in the UASB reactor, which directly affects CaP granulation. Without calcium addition, 5% of the total phosphorus (P) fed was found as CaP granules in the reactor (61 mgP g −1 dried matter), after 260 days of operation. Simultaneously, 65% of the COD in BW was efficiently converted into methane at 25 °C. Variations of bicarbonate and calcium concentrations in raw BW showed a significant influence on phosphorus accumulation in the UASB reactor. Geochemical modelling showed that the increase of soluble calcium from 39 to 54 mg L −1 in BW triggers supersaturation for calcium phosphate precursors (Ca x (PO 4 ) y ). Concurrently, bicarbonate decreased from 2.7 to 1.2 g L −1 , increasing further the ionic activity of calcium. Formation and accumulation of seed particles possibly enhanced CaP granulation. Preliminary results showed that addition of calcium (Ca 2+ /PO 4 3− molar ratio of 3) increased the accumulation of total P in the UASB reactor to more than 85%. This further increases the granulation rate and consequently, the process feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous recovery of calcium phosphate granules (CaP granules) and methane from vacuum collected black water (BW), using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was previously investigated. It was calculated that only 2% of the total phosphorus (P) fed was present as CaP granules whereas 51% of the P accumulated dispersed in the reactor, limiting the applicability of this process for recovery of phosphate. This study proposes adding calcium to increase the P accumulation in the reactor and the production of CaP granules. Calcium was added in a lab-scale UASB reactor fed with BW. An identical UASB reactor was used as reference, to which no calcium was added. The treatment performance was evaluated by weekly monitoring of influent, effluent and produced biogas. Sludge bed development and CaP granulation were assessed through particle size analysis. The composition and structure of CaP granules were chemically and optically assessed. Calcium addition increased accumulation of P in the reactor and formation and growth of granules with size > 0.4 mm diameter (CaP granules). Moreover, with calcium addition, CaP granules contained 5.6 ± 1.5 wt% of P, while without calcium a lower P content was observed (3.7 ± 0.3 wt%). By adding Ca, 89% of the incoming P from BW accumulated in the reactor and 31% was sampled as CaP granules (> 0.4 mm diameter). Addition of 250 mgCa L −1 of BW was the optimum loading found in this study. Furthermore, no significant reduction in COD Total removal (> 80%) and CH 4 production (0.47 ± 0.10 gCOD-CH 4 g −1 COD Total -BW) was observed. Therefore, adding calcium can significantly increase the CaP granulation without inhibiting the simultaneous CH 4 recovery. This further indicates the potential of this process for phosphate recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influent solids load, biofilm formation and occupation of void spaces by precipitates have been identified as major contributors to clogging the pores of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs). Several publications suggest that most of the accumulated material is inorganic, and this indicates that wear of the substrate may be an important constituent of clogging. The objective of this study was to characterize, in mineralogical, physical (specific mass) and chemical terms (neutralization power and volatile and fixed solids) the clogging material from the pores and the substrate medium (blast furnace slag) in two small full-scale HSSF-CWs, one planted with cattail ( Typha latifolia ) and another kept unplanted. The system received urban wastewater pre-treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, was operating for seven years and showed signs of heavy clogging leading to overland flow. Samples were collected at intermediate points along the two units in order to identify the origin of the accumulated material and thereby enable the proposition of a conceptual model for the clogging process of these systems. The results indicated that most of the mass of clogging solids were inorganic and originated from wear of the substrate. However, the volume occupied by the organic solids was larger, and those were the major contributors to the clogging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological treatment using sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) has been found out to have the potential for treatment of wastewaters containing sulfate and heavy metals. In the present study, in addition to the investigation of carbon source effect on the growth and sulfate removal, a statistical model using the design of experiments methodology has been developed to optimize the removal of sulfate by the obtained consortium from the anaerobic digested. All parameters were selected in three levels. Investigating the data collected from experiments using response surface methodology proved that the interactions between parameters were insignificant and could be neglected. The optimum removal conditions were achieved at pH of 7.19, initial sulfate concentration of 2153.15 mg/L, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) to initial sulfate concentration ratio (COD/SO 4 2− ) of 2.72 and the COD related to ethanol to total COD ratio (COD ethanol /COD total ) of 1 which led to sulfate removal of 98%. In five different batch experiments done in UASB reactor, the optimum conditions were applied to evaluate SRB performance in real and synthetic wastewater treatment mostly in all experiments. The differences of experiments were in real or synthetic wastewater, having an extra stage of treatment by H 2 S, using organic wastewater as carbon source and presence of heavy metal in bacteria medium. The maximum obtained removal percentage for Zn and Ni were 99.996 and 96.87, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous removal of tellurite (TeO 3 2− ) from synthetic wastewater and subsequent recovery in the form of elemental tellurium was studied in an upflow anaerobic granular sludge bed (UASB) reactor operated at 30 °C. The UASB reactor was inoculated with anaerobic granular sludge and fed with lactate as carbon source and electron donor at an organic loading rate of 0.6 g COD L −1 d −1 . After establishing efficient and stable COD removal, the reactor was fed with 10 mg TeO 3 2− L −1 for 42 d before increasing the influent concentration to 20 mg TeO 3 2− L −1 . Tellurite removal (98 and 92%, respectively, from 10 and 20 mg Te L −1 ) was primarily mediated through bioreduction and most of the removed Te was retained in the bioreactor. Characterization using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM-EDX and TEM confirmed association of tellurium with the granular sludge, typically in the form of elemental Te(0) deposits. Furthermore, application of an extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extraction method to the tellurite reducing sludge recovered up to 78% of the tellurium retained in the granular sludge. This study demonstrates for the first time the application of a UASB reactor for continuous tellurite removal from tellurite-containing wastewater coupled to elemental Te(0) recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roxarsone has been extensively used as an organoarsenic feed additive. Part of supplemented roxarsone was discharged into wastewater. UASB reactor has been widely applied to treat high concentration of organics wastewater. However, there was little report about the arsenic accumulation from organoarsenic biotransformation in an UASB reactor. In this study, the accumulation and volatilization of arsenic in a 260-day cultured UASB reactor spiked with 13.2 mg/L roxarsone were investigated. In the anaerobic granular sludge (AGS), the total arsenic concentrations were 5276.90 ± 366.12 mg/kg AGS at the bottom of anaerobic sludge bed and 10,661.92 ± 539.63 mg/kg AGS at the top of anaerobic sludge bed. Nearly 50% arsenic in the AGS was extracted under acidic conditions, and the main species of the extracted arsenic was arsenite (As(III)). In the aqueous phases, roxarsone was rapidly transformed into 4-hydroxy-3-aminophenylarsonic acid (HAPA) and an unknown organoarsenic, which was further converted to inorganic arsenic and monomethylarsenate (MMA(V)), in which As(III) was also the main species. Volatile arsenic from the reactor spiked with roxarsone was released at a rate of 134.93 ± 6.61 ng/d. Based on the mass balance analysis of arsenic, 23.40% of the influent arsenic was accumulated in the AGS and 0.002% was released in the form of volatile arsenic. The results from this study indicated that the operation of anaerobic digestion reactor treating organoarsenic-contaminated wastewater and the disposal of the residual AGS should be well managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study has been to produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol (gly) fermentation by means of a microbial mixed culture (granular sludge), as well as to establish the operational conditions of two up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors in order to achieve a maximum 1,3-PDO yield. The UASB reactors with initial pH values set at 6.8 and 5.5 were operated at 30 °C during 165 days. Thirteen variables were previously screened by a Plackett-Burman (PB) design; results showed that yeast extract, MgSO4 and methanogenesis inhibition (by heat shock) showed a positive effect, whereas high glycerol concentration, tryptone and CaCl2 showed a negative impact on the 1,3-PDO produced by glycerol degradation. Following four experimental periods, the highest average yield of 0.43 mol 1,3-PDO mol-1 gly was achieved when sodium bicarbonate was added to the reactors. Propionate and acetate were also produced and a high microorganism diversity was detected; however, the restrictive operational conditions of the reactors led to the death of the methanogenic archaea. Nevertheless, the continuous production of 1,3-PDO from glycerol within UASB reactors inoculated with granular sludge can be considered highly feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High sulfate contents in skim latex serum (SLS) can be reduced by rubber wood ash (RWA). Subsequently, the desulfated skim latex serum (DSLS) can be further anaerobically treated more effectively with the accompanying generated biomethane. In this study, DSLS was treated using an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operated at 10-day HRT and under mesophilic (37 °C) conditions. The effect of organic loading rates (OLR) at 0.89, 1.79 and 3.57 g-COD/L-reactor∙d on DSLS biodegradability was investigated in Phase I-IV using NaHCO 3 as an external buffering agent. Maximum methane production yield of 226.35 mL-CH 4 /g-COD added corresponding to 403.25 mL-CH 4 /L reactor·d was achieved at the suitable OLR of 1.79 g-COD/L-reactor∙d. UASB effluent recirculation which was then applied to replace the NaHCO 3. It was found that with 53% effluent recirculation similar to an OLR of 2.01 g-COD/L-reactor∙d, an average of 185.70 mL-CH 4 /g-COD added corresponding to 371.40 mL/L reactor·d of methane production was reached. The dominant bacteria in UASB reactor were members of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes , and Desulfobacterota phyla. Meanwhile, the archaeal community was majorly dominated by the genera Methanosaeta sp. and Methanomethylovorans sp. The study clearly indicates the capabilities of UASB reactor with effluent recirculation to treat DSLS anaerobically. [Display omitted] • The first desulfated SLS by RWA was tested for enhanced biogas continuously process. • Maximum CH 4 yield (226.35 mL/g-COD added) was achieved at OLR 1.79 g-COD/L-reactor∙d. • The possible effluent recirculation to replace the buffering agent was proved. • The granules sizes were increasing after the favorable anaerobic process performing. • Methanosaeta and Methanomethylovorans were majorly community of archaeal in reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roxarsone (3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, ROX) has been widely used for decades as an organoarsenic feed additive to control intestinal parasites and improve feed efficiency in animal production. However, most of the ROX is excreted into the manure, causing arsenic contamination in wastewater. The arsenic compounds are toxic to microorganisms, but the influence of continuous ROX loading on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor is still unknown. In this study, the impact of ROX and its degradation products on the performance of the UASB reactor and the degradation and speciation of ROX in the reactor were investigated. The UASB reactor (hydraulic retention time: 1.75 d) was operated using synthetic wastewater supplemented with ROX for a period of 260 days. With continuous ROX addition at 25.0 mg·L, severe inhibition to methanogenic activity occurred after 87 days operation accompanied with an accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and a decline in pH. The decrease of added ROX concentration to 13.2 mg·L did not mediate the inhibition. As(III), As (V), MMA(V), DMA(V), HAPA and an unknown arsenic compound were detected in the reactor, and a possible biotransformation pathway of ROX was proposed. Mass balance analysis of arsenic indicated that 60%-70% of the arsenic was discharged into the effluent, and 30%-40% was precipitated in the reactor. The results from this study suggest that we need to pay attention to the stability in the UASB reactors treating organoarsenic-contaminated manure and wastewater, and the effluent and sludge from the reactor to avoid diffusion of arsenic contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En esta investigación se evaluó la eliminación de distintas fracciones orgánicas de aguas de producción petrolera (APP), tratarlas en reactores de manto de lodo con flujo ascendente (UASB) de 2,5 L de volumen útil y se aplicó el método Micro-SARA de análisis a dos aguas de producción diferentes. Las condiciones de tratamiento fueron: tiempos de retención hidráulica de 24 h, temperatura de 37°C y flujo continuo, durante un periodo aproximado de tres meses. Para evaluar la estabilidad de los reactores UASB, se determinó la demanda química de oxígeno (DQO), así como pH y alcalinidad total. Se aplicó la metodología micro-SARA a las muestras de APP, tanto a la entrada como a la salida del proceso. Se obtuvo una alta remoción de las fracciones en aguas de producción de petróleo liviano (APPL), con un valor medio de 94% para los hidrocarburos aromáticos. Para el agua de producción de petróleo mediano (APPM), la eliminación fue menor (67%). Los resultados indican una eliminación de la materia orgánica presente en las APPL, por parte de los microorganismos anaerobios presentes en el reactor. Se recomienda continuar la evaluación de este sistema a escala piloto.The removal of different organic fractions of two separated waters from extracted crude oil (APP), applying the micro-SARA method, was evaluated in this work using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors of 2.5 L of useful volume. The treatment conditions were: hydraulic retention times of 24 h, temperature 37°C and continuous flow, during an approximated period of three months. In order to evaluate the stability of UASB reactors, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH and total alkalinity were measured. The micro-SARA method was applied in effluent and influent samples to reactors. A high removal of fractions in separated waters from extracted light crude oil (APPL) was obtained, with an average value of 94% for aromatic hydrocarbons. For the separated waters from extracted medium crude oil (APPM), the elimination was smaller (67%). The results indicate important improvements in water quality by the anaerobic microorganisms presents in the reactor. A study of this system on pilot scale is recommended.

An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor of volume 0.03 m3was designed and fabricated to treat wastewater. The initial organic loading rate (OLR) of the wastewater estimated to be 4.8 gVS/l.d was later reduced to 0.96 gVS/l.d to control the observed acidity in the medium while the reactor was operated continuously for 64 days. The percent biological oxygen demand (BOD) and volatile solid (VS) removal were calculated over a period of 5 weeks to measure the efficiency of the reactor. The mean VS, total solid (TS), and BOD for the influent substrate were 0.43 g/kg, 0.84 g/kg, and 0.020 mg/m3, respectively, while for the treated wastewater, the VS, TS, and BOD were 0.30 g/kg, 0.59 g/kg, and 0.013 mg/m3, respectively. The estimated energy produced by the biogas was 5.8 kWh and 0.001 m3of the biogas raised the temperature of 20 ml of water by 11.8°C in 40 s. The study concluded that the UASB reactor designed could treat the wastewater and the biogas generated could also serve as a source of renewable energy for cooking. However, the start-up OLR should be monitored in the course of operation to prevent souring of the digester and to achieve optimum performance of the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of anaerobic sewage treatment is to maximize the fraction of influent organic material that is transformed into methane, thus minimizing the COD fractions that are discharged with the effluent or in the excess sludge production. Experimental data in this paper show that in the case of application of a UASB reactor for sewage treatment, the phase separator design has an important influence on digestion efficiency. An efficient phase separator leads to retention of a larger sludge mass, which means that the mean solids retention time is increased. The data show that the mean solids retention time or sludge age is the fundamental operational parameter that determines the efficiency of the anaerobic treatment. A simple way to improve the phase separator performance is to apply parallel plates in the settling section of the UASB reactor, above the conventional phase separator design of triangular prisms with an open base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in high-rate anaerobic (pre-)treatment of sewage using UASB reactors is steadily growing since its introduction in the mid-1980s. Today there are hundreds of full-scale plants in operation in various parts of the tropical world, notably in Latin America and India. The main advantage of UASB technology is the very low or even zero energy demand, leading to an up to tenfold drop in operational costs compared to activated sludge. This paper presents a literature review focussing on current design criteria and post-treatment options, alongside discussing the centralized and decentralized approach. The current limitations and constraints regarding temperature, nutrients, pathogen removal, odour nuisance, operational constrictions and methane emissions are also presented and discussed. Further, recent challenges in relation to energy recovery from biogas, sludge and scum are discussed, alongside with advances related to recovery of dissolved methane and sludge management. Finally, the paper provides some outlooks for upcoming developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avaliou-se o desempenho de dois reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB) em escala-piloto com volumes de 908 L e 188 L, instalados em série, alimentados com águas residuárias de suinocultura com concentrações médias de sólidos suspensos totais (SST) variando de 2.216 mg L-1 a 7.131 mg L-1 e submetidos a tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 62,3 e 31,1 h, no primeiro reator, e de 12,9 e 6,5 h, no segundo reator. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal variaram de 74,0% a 89,6% no Reator 1 e de 34,3% a 45,1% no Reator 2, resultando em valores médios de 86,6% a 93,1% para o sistema de tratamento em dois estágios com carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) na faixa de 3,40 a 14,44 kg DQOtotal m-3 reator d-1 no Reator 1. As concentrações de metano no biogás foram acima de 75% para o Reator 1 e de 80% para o Reator 2. Os valores médios de pH variaram na faixa de 6,9 a 8,2 para o efluente do Reator 1 e de 7,0 a 8,3 para o efluente do Reator 2. Os ácidos voláteis totais mantiveram-se estáveis com concentrações médias abaixo de 200 mg L-1. Esses resultados indicaram que as condições de carga orgânica, em termos de DQO e SSV, impostas ao sistema de tratamento anaeróbio em dois estágios, não foram limitantes para que houvesse o desenvolvimento de lodo com microbiota adaptada e com alta atividade, propiciando altas eficiências médias de remoção de matéria orgânica (86,6 a 93,1% para DQOtotal e 85,6 a 88,2% para SSV) e taxas de produção de metano de 0,156 a 0,289 m³ CH4 kg-1 de DQO removida.The objective of this work was monitoring the performance of two up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASB) in a pilot-scale testing with volumes of 908 L and 188 L, installed in series, loaded with swine wastewater with total suspended solids (TSS) ranging from 2216 to 7131 mg L-1, submitted to an hydraulic detention time (HDT) of 62.3 and 31.1 h, in the first reactor, and 12.9 and 6.5 h, in the second reactor. The mean total COD removal efficiency varied from 74.0 to 89.6% in reactor 1, and from 34.3 to 45.1% in reactor 2, resulting average values ranging from 86.6 to 93.1% for the two-stage treatment system under organic volumetric load (OVL) of 3.40 to 14.44 kg CODtotal m-3 reactor d-1 in the reactor 1. The methane concentration in biogas values was over 75% in reactor 1 and 80% in reactor 2. Average pH values in the effluents ranged from 6.9 to 8.2 in reactor 1 and 7.0 to 8.3 for reactor 2. The amount of total volatile acids remained steady showing mean concentrations bellow 200 mg L-1. According to these results the organic loading conditions, concerning to the COD and VSS imposed to the two-stage anaerobic treatment system were not limiting to the sludge blanket development of extremely active and adapted micro biota providing high mean values of organic matter removal, from 86.6 to 93.1 % to the CODtotal and 85.6 to 88.2% to VSS, and the rate of volumetric methane production from 0.156 to 0.289 m³ CH4 kg-1 COD removed.

In this study, we evaluated the use of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to treat crude glycerol obtained from cottonseed biodiesel production. The laboratory-scale UASB reactor (7.0 L) was operated at ambient temperature of 26.5°C with chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations between 0.5 and 8.0 g/L. The volatile fatty acid contents, pH, inorganic salt contents and biogas production were monitored during a 280-day experimental period. Molecular biology techniques were used to assess the microbial diversity in the bioreactor. The reactor achieved COD removal efficiencies of up to 92% except during one phase when the efficiency decreased to 81%. Biogas production remained stable throughout the experimental period, when the fraction converted to methane reached values as high as 68%. The profile of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) bands suggested slight changes in the microbial community during reactor operation. The overall results indicated that the crude glycerol from biodiesel production can serve as a suitable substrate for anaerobic degradation with a stable reactor performance and biogas production as long as the applied organic loads are up to 8.06 kg COD/m³∙d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studied the influence of effluent recirculation upon the kinetics of anaerobic degradation of dairy wastewater in the feedless phase of intermittent upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors. Several laboratory-scale tests were performed with different organic loads in closed circuit UASB reactors inoculated with adapted flocculent sludge. The data obtained were used for determination of specific substrate removal rates and specific methane production rates, and adjusted to kinetic models. A high initial substrate removal was observed in all tests due to adsorption of organic matter onto the anaerobic biomass which was not accompanied by biological substrate degradation as measured by methane production. Initial methane production rate was about 45% of initial soluble and colloidal substrate removal rate. This discrepancy between methane production rate and substrate removal rate was observed mainly on the first day of all experiments and was attenuated on the second day, suggesting that the feedless period of intermittent UASB reactors treating dairy wastewater should be longer than one day. Effluent recirculation expressively raised the rate of removal of soluble and colloidal substrate and methane productivity, as compared with results for similar assays in batch reactors without recirculation. The observed bed expansion was due to the biogas production and the application of effluent recirculation led to a sludge bed contraction after all the substrates were degraded. The settleability of the anaerobic sludge improved by the introduction of effluent recirculation this effect being more pronounced for the higher loads. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biological treatment of oil and grease (O&G)-containing industrial effluents has long been a challenging issue. Practically feasible avenues to bring down their O&G load and enhance treatability are desired. In one such endeavour, the partially purified lipase from Staphylococcus pasteuri COM-4A was immobilized on celite carrier and applied for the enzymatic hydrolysis of unsterilized coconut oil mill effluent. In batch hydrolysis experiments, optimum conditions of 1% (w/v) immobilized lipase beads, one in four effluent dilution, and a contact time of 30 h resulted in 46% and 24% increase in volatile fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids and a concomitant 52% and 32% decrease in O&G and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, respectively. Batch anaerobic biodegradation trials with this prehydrolyzed effluent showed 89%, 91%, and 90% decrease in COD, proteins, and reducing sugars, respectively. These results were validated in a hybrid stirred tank-upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor. Average COD and O&G reductions effected by the hybrid reactor were found to be 89% and 88%, whereas that by the control reactor without enzymatic hydrolysis were only 60% and 47%, respectively. A maximum of 0.86 L methane gas was generated by the hybrid reactor per gram of VS added. Hence, this celite-immobilized crude lipase, sourced from a native laboratory isolate, seems to be a workable alternative to commercial enzyme preparations for the management of lipid-rich industrial effluents. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1249-1258, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioaugmentation with an anaerobic fungus, Piromyces rhizinflata YM600, was evaluated in an anaerobic two-stage system digesting corn silage and cattail. Comparable methane yields of 328.8 ± 16.8 mL g −1 VS and 295.4 ± 14.5 mL g −1 VS and hydrogen yields of 59.4 ± 4.1 mL g −1 VS and 55.6 ± 6.7 mL g −1 VS were obtained for unaugmented and bioaugmented corn silage, respectively. Similar CH 4 yields of 101.0 ± 4.8 mL g −1 VS and 104 ± 19.1 mL g −1 VS and a low H 2 yield (<1 mL g −1 VS) were obtained for unaugmented and bioaugmented cattail, respectively. However, bioaugmentation resulted in an initial increase in CH 4 and H 2 production rates and also increased volatile fatty acid degradation rate for both substrates. Our study demonstrates the potential of bioaugmentation with anaerobic fungus for improving the digestibility of lignocellulose substrates for biogas and biohydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to study the anaerobic sludge filtration capacity regarding helminth egg removal in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Two 25 L lab-scale UASB reactors were operated at an ambient temperature which varied between 17.1 and 28.6 °C. Ascaris suum egg was selected as the model egg considering its similarity in terms of size and morphology to Ascaris lumbricoides, a human pathogen. Ascaris suum eggs were obtained from female parasites of infected pigs. The anaerobic sludge filtration capacity was performed applying upflow velocities between 0.09 and 0.68 m∙h-1. Three sludge bed heights in the range of 0.30-0.40 m, 0.50-0.60 m and 0.60-0.70 m were applied. These sludge bed heights corresponded to 19%-25%, 31%-38% and 38%-44% of the total reactor height, respectively. Under the mentioned conditions, the average helminth egg removal efficiency was reciprocally correlated to the imposed upflow velocity. The studied lab-scale reactors reported an average helminth egg removal between 34%-100%, 30%-91% and 34%-56%, when the sludge bed in the UASB reactor was 19%-25%, 31%-38% and 38%-44% of the total reactor height, respectively. The decreased filtration capacity at increasing sludge bed heights might be likely related to biogas production and channeling formation. The average helminth egg removal efficiency in the control experiments performed without any sludge bed, by plain sedimentation, varied between 44% and 66%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison between three simple sewage treatment lines involving natural processes: (a) upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor--three maturation ponds in series-- coarse rock filter; (b) UASB reactor--horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland; and (c) verticalflow constructed wetlands treating raw sewage (first stage of the French system). The evaluation was based on several years of practical experience with three small full-scale plants receiving the same influent wastewater (population equivalents of 220, 60 and 100 inhabitants) in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The comparison included interpretation of concentrations and removal efficiencies based on monitoring data (organic matter, solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, coliforms and helminth eggs), together with an evaluation of practical aspects, such as land and volume requirements, sludge production and handling, plant management, clogging and others. Based on an integrated evaluation of all aspects involved, it is worth emphasizing that each system has its own specificities, and no generalization can be made on the best option. The overall conclusion is that the three lines are suitable for sewage treatment in small communities in warm-climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal design and operation of a planned full-scale UASB reactor at a dairy farm are determined using optimization algorithms based on steady state simulations of a dynamic AD process model combined with models of the reactor temperature and heat exchanger temperatures based on energy balances. Available feedstock is 6 m 3 /d dairy manure produced by the herd. Three alternative optimization problems are solved: Maximization of produced methane gas flow, minimization of reactor volume, and maximization of power surplus. Constraints of the optimization problems are an upper limit of the VFA concentration, and an upper limit of the feed rate corresponding to a normal animal waste production at the farm. The most proper optimization problem appears to be minimization of the reactor volume, assuming that the feed rate is fixed at its upper limit and that the VFA concentration is at its upper limit. The optimal result is a power surplus of 49.8 MWh/y, a hydraulic retention time of 6.1 d, and a reactor temperature of 35.9 °C, assuming heat recovery with an heat exchanger, and perfect reactor heat transfer insulation. In general, the optimal solutions are improved if the ratio of the solids (biomass) retention time to the hydraulic retention time is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomethane production from the microalga Scenedesmus sp. AMDD was demonstrated in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. A full factorial design experiment was used to identify the effect of organic loading rate (OLR) of algal biomass and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the volumetric rate of methane production. At an HRT of 4 days and an OLR of 3.23 g TVS L R − 1 d − 1 corresponding to an influent microalgae concentration of 12 g total volatile solids (TVS) L − 1 , the volumetric rate of CH 4 production reached 0.6 L STP L − 1 R d − 1 . A methane yield of 0.18–0.2 L per g TVS of fed microalgae was estimated. A stable performance was observed throughout 3 months of UASB reactor operation. Due to the short HRT and the good performance of UASB reactor, operated at influent microalgae concentrations in a range of 4–12 g TVS L − 1 , this reactor type is suitable for coupling with photobioreactors equipped with gravitational settlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food processing wastewater contains biodegradable organic matter, and biogas and hydrogen content varies with the operational conditions of the anaerobic digester and may be useful control parameter. Up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) was investigated for the treatment of low biodegradable composite chemical wastewater, which was complex in nature. In Phase-I, experiments were carried out in a laboratory scale batch reactor fed with sugar industrial wastewater with different concentrations. During batch mode operation the various characteristics of sugar industrial wastewater such as pH, TS, TDS, TVSS, BOD5,20, etc. were studied. The variation among these characteristics with respect to days can be plotted to know the maximum growth of microorganisms in batch reactor. The batch process is mainly started for the acclimatization process (growing of microorganisms) and to find the steady state condition for the reactor which shows optimum conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors operated under thermophilic conditions was used to investigate the two-stage anaerobic process for continuous hydrogen and methane production from skim latex serum (SLS). The first reactor for producing hydrogen was operated by feeding 38 g-VS/L-SLS at various hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 60, 48, 36, and 24 h. The optimum hydrogen production yield of 2.25 ± 0.09 L-H 2 /L-SLS was achieved at a 36 h HRT. Meanwhile, the effluents containing mainly with acetate was fed to the second UASB reactor for methane production at 9-day HRT and could be converted to methane with the production yield of 6.41 ± 0.52 L-CH 4 /L-SLS. The efficiency of organic matters removal obtained from this two-stage process was 62%. The present study shows high value fuel gases in a form of hydrogen and methane can be potentially generated by using a continuous two-stage anaerobic process, in which available organic matters is simultaneously degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory plant consisting of two UASB reactors was used for the treatment of industrial wastewater from the wheat starch industry. Several load tests were carried out with starch wastewater and the synthetic substrates glucose, acetate, cellulose, butyrate and propionate to observe the impact of changing loads on gas yield and effluent quality. The measurement data sets were used for calibration and validation of the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1). For a precise simulation of the detected glucose degradation during load tests with starch wastewater and glucose, it was necessary to incorporate the complete lactic acid fermentation into the ADM1, which contains the formation and degradation of lactate and a non-competitive inhibition function. The modelling results of both reactors based on the modified ADM1 confirm an accurate calculation of the produced gas and the effluent concentrations. Especially, the modelled lactate effluent concentrations for the load cases are similar to the measurements and justified by literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recovery of phosphorus from wastewater as calcium phosphate could diminish the need for mining of scarce phosphate rock resources. This study introduces a novel approach to phosphorus recovery by precipitation of calcium phosphate granules in anaerobic treatment of black water. The granules formed in the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor at lab- and demonstration-scale were analyzed for chemical composition and mineralogy by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Electron microprobe (EMP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and micro X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The granules had a diameter of 1–2 mm, organic content of 33 wt%, and phosphorus content of 11–13 wt%. Three calcium phosphate phases were identified in the granules: hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate hydrate and carbonated hydroxyapatite. Without any addition of chemicals, 7 gP/person/year can be recovered with the calcium phosphate granules, representing 2% of the incoming phosphorus in the UASB reactor. As the heavy metal content was lower compared to other phosphorus recovery products, phosphate rock and phosphorus fertilizer, the calcium phosphate granules could be considered as a new phosphorus product. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Methanogens are the “key players” of anaerobic digestion under high ammonia levels. [•] Bioaugmentation of SAO co-culture was not possible in a UASB reactor. [•] M. bourgensis increased the maximum growth rate of SAO co-culture by 42%. [•] M. bourgensis reduced the incubation period of SAO co-culture by 33%. [•] Methanogens were the limiting factor of SAO co-culture bioaugmentation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present work shows the results obtained in the anaerobic digestion process of coffee wet wastewater processing. An UASB anaerobic reactor was operated in single-stage in mesophilic temperature controlled conditions (37±1ºC). The effect of both organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the anaerobic digestion of coffee wet wastewater was investigated. The OLR values considered in the single-stage UASB reactor varied in a range of 3,6-4,1 kg COD m-3 d-1 and the HRT stayed in a range of 21,5-15,5 hours. The evaluation results show that the best performance of UASB reactor in single-stage was obtained at OLR of 3,6 kg COD m-3 d-1 with an average value of total and soluble COD removal of 77,2% and 83,4%, respectively, and average methane concentration in biogas of 61%. The present study suggests that the anaerobic digestion is suitable to treating coffee wet wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to discuss the experience from long-term operation of a laboratory UASB reactor inoculated with suspended or granulated biomass for the treatment of different kinds of crude glycerol in undiluted or diluted state. The UASB reactor was operated under mesophilic conditions. It was demonstrated that the anaerobic treatment of crude glycerol as the only substrate in the UASB reactor is feasible, although the specific inhibition effects and requirements resulting from the nature and composition of the g-phase have to be considered. Deficient concentrations of nutrients had to be compensated by their supplementation into the digester. Long-term microbiological treatment of undiluted crude glycerol led to the process inhibition due to the accumulation of dissolved inorganic salts. When dosing diluted g-phase previously treated by acidulation, very good removal efficiency of COD, stable biogas production and high share of methane in the biogas were observed at the organic loading rates of up to 12kg/(m3 d). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Blue mussels and reeds were explored as a new biomass type in the Kalmar County of Sweden to improve renewable transport fuel production in the form of biogas. Anaerobic digestion of blue mussels and reeds was performed at a laboratory-scale to evaluate biogas production in a two-stage dry digestion system. The two-stage system consisted of a leach bed reactor and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The two-stage system was efficient for the digestion of blue mussels, including shells, and a methane yield of 0.33 m3/kg volatile solids (VS) was obtained. The meat fraction of blue mussels was easily solubilised in the leach bed reactor and the soluble organic materials were rapidly converted in the UASB reactor from which 68% of the methane was produced. However, the digestion of mussels including shells gave low production capacity, which may result in a less economically viable biogas process. A low methane potential, 0.22 m3/kg VS, was obtained in the anaerobic two-stage digestion of reeds after 107 days; however, it was comparable to similar types of biomass, such as straw. About 80% of the methane was produced in the leach bed reactor. Hence, only a leach bed reactor (dry digestion) may be needed to digest reed. The two-stage anaerobic digestion of blue mussels and reeds resulted in an energy potential of 16.6 and 10.7 GWh/year, respectively, from the estimated harvest amounts. Two-stage anaerobic digestion of new organic materials such as blue mussels and reeds can be a promising biomass resource as land-based biomass start to be limited and conflict with food resources can be avoided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Performance of a combined system up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) followed by aerobic treatment activated sludge (AS) for removal of carbonaceous and nitrogenous contaminants at an average temperature of 25°C was investigated. The combined system was fed with high strength synthetic sewage having chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 2500 mg L−1. The organic loading rate (OLR) of the UASB reactor was increased gradually from 1.1 to 3.8 gCOD Lr−1d−1. At steady state condition, the UASB reactor achieved removal efficiency up to 83.5% of total COD (CODtot), 74.0% of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and 94.0% of protein. The combined system performed an excellent organic removal pushing the overall removal efficiency of CODtot, VFA and protein to 91.0%, 99.9% and 98.2%, respectively. When the OLR of the UASB increased to 4.4 g COD Lr−1d−1, the UASB was overloaded and; thus, its effluent quality deteriorated. In respect to nitrogen removal, both partial nitrification and complete nitrification took place in aerobic post-treatment. When the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was >2.0 mg L−1, complete nitrification (period B) occurred with an average nitrification efficiency of 96.2%. The partial nitrification occurred due to high OLR to AS during the overloading event (period A) and when DO concentration was <2.0 mg L−1(period C). The maximum accumulated nitrite concentration in periods A, B and C were 90.0, 0.9 and 75.8 mg NO−2-N L−1, respectively. The nitrogen balance results of periods A and C indicated that there was a discrepancy between the amount of ammonium nitrogen removed and the amount of oxidized nitrogen formed. This suggests the occurrence of simultaneous nitrification/denitrification (SND) in aerobic post-treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This research evaluated biogas production in batch and UASB reactors from pilot-scale acid catalysed steam pretreated and enzymatic hydrolysed wheat straw. The results showed that the pretreatment was efficient and, a sugar yield of 95% was obtained. The pretreatment improved the methane yield (0.28m3/kg VSadded) by 57% compared to untreated straw. Treatment of the straw hydrolysate with nutrient supplementation in a UASB reactor resulted in a high methane production rate, 2.70m3/m3.d at a sustainable OLR of 10.4kg COD/m3.d and with a COD reduction of 94%. Alternatively, co-digestion of the straw and seaweed hydrolysates in a UASB reactor also maintained a stable anaerobic process and can thus reduce the cost of nutrients addition. We have shown that biogas production from wheat straw can be competitive by pretreatment, high methane production rate in UASB reactors and also by co-digestion with seaweed hydrolysate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The feasibility of anaerobic treatment of methanol condensate from pulp and paper mill in UASB reactor was investigated and compared with the anaerobic treatment of methanol. The UASB reactor treating methanol condensate was operated for 480days with minimum problems of overload. COD removal from methanol condensate and methanol under normal operating conditions ranged from 84–86% to 86–98%, respectively. Under optimal conditions (OLR=5.0gCODL−1 day−1, CODinfluent =11.40gL−1) a methane yield of 0.29 NL CH4 per g CODremoved (at standard temperature and pressure) was achieved during the treatment of methanol condensate. The recovery time of the microorganisms after several overloads was decreasing each time probably due to the adaptation to methanol condensate. These findings indicate that methanol condensate can be efficiently treated in a UASB reactor with the benefit of biogas production. As a bonus effect of the treatment, much of the smell of the feed was eliminated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents results on anaerobic degradation of the azo dye blue HFRL in a bench scale Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operated at ambient temperature. The results show that the addition of yeast extract (500 mg/L) increased color removal ( P < 0.05) from 62 to 93% despite the low chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (~35%) which happened due to volatile fatty acids (VFA) accumulation. There were no differences in color removal (~91%) when yeast extract (500 mg/L) was used in the presence or absence of glucose, suggesting that yeast extract acted as source of redox mediator (riboflavin) and carbon. The specific rate of dye removal increased along the operational phases and depended on the presence of yeast extract, suggesting progressive biomass acclimatization. Analysis of bacterial diversity by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method showed there was biomass selection along the bioreactor operation and no evidence of azo dye degrading bacteria predominance. This strengthens the hypothesis that color removal happens extracellularly by the reduction of azo bond by reduced redox mediators, such as riboflavin, which is present in high amount in the yeast extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The removal efficiency of 16 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from urban wastewater (dissolved and particulate phases) was evaluated for the first time in a hybrid pilot plant consisting of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by two sequentially connected horizontal flow constructed wetlands: a surface flow wetland (SF CW) and a subsurface flow wetland (SSF CW). Whereas the PPCP removal associated with the dissolved phase exhibited a seasonal pattern, the fraction associated with the suspended solids showed less seasonality. In the dissolved phase, the overall removal efficiency in summer ranged from 70% to 85% for salicylic acid (SAL), methyl dihydrojasmonate, caffeine (CAF), ketoprofen and triclosan, whereas in winter it declined for most of the PPCPs to between 30% and 50%, except for CAF and SAL (>80%) and carbamazepine and butylated hydroxyl toluene (11–18%). In the suspended solids, the removal exceeded 80% for most of the target PPCPs. The efficiency of the different treatment steps was also compound-dependent, but the SF CW generally exhibited the highest removal efficiency for most of the contaminants analyzed. The characterization of the organic matter retained in the wetland gravel beds revealed the occurrence of hydrophobic contaminants such as phthalate esters and fragrances at moderate concentrations (i.e., up to 3.5μgkg−1), which declined strongly over the course of the different treatment steps. In the SF CW, the net mass accumulation rates of tonalide and galaxolide were 4 and 23gy−1 respectively, whereas in the SSF CW they were 0.3 and 1.8gy−1 respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Wastewater discharged from tannery industries is highly complex, concentrated, and toxic. In view of the varying nature of discharged wastewater and the numerous small industries in Egypt, there is a need for highly efficient treatment processes that are simple to operate and have low/reasonable construction and operation costs. This study investigated the possibility of applying innovative low cost biological treatment using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) in providing adequate treatment for tannery wastewater. The anaerobic treatment application was thus evaluated through using two stage UASB reactors connecting in series, each with volume of 94l. Five hydraulic retention times (HRT) were used along the experimental works, which lasted for a year, starting by HRT of 24h then 18, 12, 8 and finally 5h for each UASB reactor. The proposed process at 12h HRTs could pre-treat the tannery wastewater to be disposed to the municipality sewers. The study created best fit equations to predict the efficiency of the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]