REMOVAL EFFICIENCIES OF CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD) IN DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT WITH UASB REACTORS

In this research study, removal efficiency of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor for domestic wastewater treatment from the urban area of Cerete municipality in Colombia, was evaluated at 30°C. Also, operation parameters such as pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and influent and effluent wastewater temperature were evaluated. Inoculum adaptation used to start the UASB lasted five days, after which, the reactor was continuously fed with organic loads of 13 Kg COD L-day. The start-up stage was carried out for 15 days, during which, there was no foam formation, acidification or sludge flotation, indicating a proper system functioning. As a result, high removal percentages (more than 70%) of COD resulted from the studied wastewater.