Anaerobic baffle reactor (ABR) process for treating a slaughterhouse wastewater

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Abstract
Experiments on ABR were conducted to investigate its efficiency on organic carbon removal. Laboratory scale ABR units were used to treat the dissolved air flotation pre‐treated slaughterhouse wastewater with COD concentration range from 480 to 730 mg L−1. The steady‐state performance was evaluated under organic loading rates (OLR) from 0.67 to 4.73 g COD L−1 d−1 and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.5 to 26 hr. The ABR was started up at an OLR of 0.67 g COD L−l d−1 HRT of 26 hr and at ambient temperature (30 to 35°C in day time and 25 to 30°C in night time). A treatment efficiency up to 90% on a total COD basis was achieved within 8 days of operation. Once started, the system could satisfactorily handle OLR up to 4.73 g COD L−1 d−1 at HRT of 2.5 hr. Treatment efficiency up to 75% was reached on a total COD basis and to 84% on a filtered COD basis. A conversion of COD removed into methane of 78% was obtained. Gas production was about 0.10 to 0.22 L g−1 applied COD. Biogas produced contained 20 to 27% nitrogen, 69 to 73% methane and 2 to 4% carbon dioxide. The experimental work has shown that ABR is efficient for the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater and compares favourably with other novel anaerobic systems.