Evaluation of a zeolite/anaerobic buffled reactor hybrid system for treatment of low bio-degradable effluents

Abstract The main objective of this work was to reduce the inhibitory effects of high contents of organics, ammonia, and heavy metals in an anaerobic buffled reactor (ABR), and to prevent the sludge wash-out using zeolites as media. In this work, a pilot scale of ABR with 8 compartments and a working volume of 14.4 L was used, and the last four ABR compartments were filled with a zeolite. The bioreactor was operated at HRTs of 3, 4, and 5 days, zeolite filling ratios of 10, 20, and 30%, and influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations of 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 mg/L. The results obtained showed that the maximum removal efficiencies of COD and BOD 5 reached 78 and 68%, respectively. The maximum removal was observed at a HRT of 5 days, a 30% medium filling ratio, and a COD of 10,000 mg/L. Increasing the filling ratio in the reactor increased the removal efficiencies of COD and BOD 5 but increasing the concentration of the influent COD and decreasing HRT reduced the removal efficiency of the reactor. The initial BOD 5 /COD ratio was equal to 0.36, which increased by 46% when the medium filling ratio was elevated to 30%. The maximum biogas yield was 0.23 L/g of COD Removed , and the specific methanogenic activity test verified the toxicity effect of the leachate on the gas-producer organisms. The results of scanning electronic microscopy and EDS showed that the zeolite medium immobilized the microorganisms and a biofilm was formed. Also the zeolite, as a well-known ion exchanger, decreased the concentrations of the major inhibitors (ammonia and heavy metals) and improved the reactor efficiency.