An investigation of start‐up in anaerobic filters utilising dairy waste

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Abstract
Two start‐up regimes for upflow anaerobic filters, one utilising stepped organic loading and the second stepped loading with anaerobic polymer addition, were evaluated. Start‐up was initiated using a synthetic ice‐cream waste; as loading increased, real ice‐cream waste was substituted. A waste COD of approximately 5000 mgl‐l was applied throughout the study. Organic loadings of up to 12 kgCODm‐3d‐1 could be applied, at an .HRT of 0.42 d, with COD removals >80%. Polymer did not enhance start‐up as the performances of the two reactors were indistinguishable. Total VFA remained below 100 mgl‐1 for most of the study.