Anaerobic Treatment of Low-Strength Wastewater

With increasing concerns about the global energy crisis and climate change, the focus on wastewater treatment has shifted toward developing more energy-efficient and cost-effective systems. Anaerobic treatment is seen as an opportunity for utilizing the wastewater as a source for energy recovery. The primary focus of this chapter is on the anaerobic processes for the treatment of low-strength wastewaters, their current status, and new developments. The various types of high-rate anaerobic reactors and their applications, advantages, and limitations for low-strength wastewater treatment are reviewed. Anaerobic processes using suspended growth and attached growth, as well as the more recent anaerobic membrane bioreactor processes, are discussed. This chapter also discusses some cutting-edge research progress in the anaerobic processes for low-strength wastewater treatment, their technical aspects, and their advantages and shortcomings compared to conventional treatment methods.