Treatment of Adsorbable Organic Halide (AOX) from pulp and paper industry wastewater using aerobic granules in pilot scale SBR

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2017.07.005
• Publication Date: 2017-07-24T16:01:55Z
• Authors: I.H. Farooqi; Farrukh Basheer
• Keywords: Sequencing batch reactor; Granule (geology); Granulation

Abstract Aerobic granulation of activated sludge was achieved in a pilot scale column type sequencing batch reactor (SBR) employed for the treatment of pulp and paper industry wastewater containing Adsorbable Organic Halide (AOX) in the range of 15–20 mg/L. Throughout the 780 days of operation the biomass trends to remain in between 7 and 8 g/L MLVSS and SVI reduced to 60–80 mL/g MLSS. After applying different selection pressure the average size of aerobic granule in the SBR was in the range of 2–4 mm. After achieving steady state conditions in the pilot plant, at an organic loading rateof 4.5 kg COD m −3 day −1 at 6 h HRT the degradation of AOX was significant and the effluent AOX concentration of below 5 mg/L was achieved. The results achieved in the study exhibit the viability of formation of aerobic granules in pilot scale SBR and maintenance of long-term strength of aerobic granular sludge with a high reduction of AOX in pulp and paper industry wastewater.