Abstract:
This research studied an Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) in pilot scale with volume of 2.0 m3 for treatment of soy milk synthesized wastewater at low COD concentrations, which were 333±109, 1,021±71, 2,428±91, and 4,450±354 mg /L, with sludge concentrations of 10,720±264 mg /L. Results showed that easily degraded COD were about 50% of total COD. Degradation rates were modeled with Monods equation using SPSS program found that km was 10.96±5.52 mg-COD/(mgSS-hr) and KS was 1,683±1540 mg/L. After that sludge concentrations were reduced to 4,790±151, 2,954±198, and 1,780±85 mg /L, using initial COD of 1,814±143 mg/L. COD reduction happened in 2 stages, first at the beginning of the experiments and then another stage after most of biogases were released from reactor, but biogas was released constantly. Methane percentage in biogas was 52±4.24%, and ratio of methane production was 0.24±0.07 m3/kg COD removed. Solids separation experiments showed that the suitable time was 4-8 hrs, resulting in 40% - 60% solids removal efficiency. Experiment with mixing methods found that using recirculation pump of both bottom and above water feeding resulted in incomplete mixing, having sludge accumulation in either top or bottom layer, which would reduce the reactor efficiency. When using a 75 rpm agitator, the COD degradation rate was about 3 times higher and sludge was completely mixed, but COD degradation was still happened in 2 stages and pH trend was still not according to COD reduction. These results showed that this agitator speed was not enough to drive the biogas out and inhibited the COD degradation.