Formation of aerobic granular sludge during the treatment of petrochemical wastewater

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.04.068
• Publication Date: 2017-04-21T05:15:28Z
• Authors: Michel Caluwé; Thomas Dobbeleers; Jolien D'aes; Solange Miele; Veerle Akkermans; Dominique Daens; Luc Geuens; Filip Kiekens; Ronny Blust; Jan Dries
• Keywords: Sequencing batch reactor; Granule (geology); Granulation; Settling

In this study, petrochemical wastewater from the port of Antwerp was used for the development of aerobic granular sludge. Two different reactor setups were used, (1) a completely aerated sequencing batch reactor (SBRae) with a feast/famine regime and (2) a sequencing batch reactor operated with an anaerobic feast/aerobic famine strategy (SBRan). The seed sludge showed poor settling characteristics with a sludge volume index (SVI) of 285mL.gMLSS-1 and a median particle size by volume of 86.0µm±1.9µm. In both reactors, granulation was reached after 30days with a SVI of 71mL.gMLSS-1 and median granule size of 264.7µm in SBRan and a SVI of 56mL.gMLSS-1 and median granule size of 307.4µm in SBRae. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal was similar in both reactors and above 95%. The anaerobic DOC uptake increased from 0.13% to 43.2% in 60days in SBRan.