Degradation of organic constituents in a biphasic anaerobic digester for treating pharmaceutical wastewater

Abstract

A laboratory scale of biphasic anaerobic bioreactor was operated in a total working volume of 36.92l with 6.15l of Acidogenic and 30.77l of Methanogenic reactor for treating Pharmaceutical wastewater in a mesophilic conditions. The Organic Loading Rate for this experimental study was varied from 1.448 to 30.80Kg COD/m3.d for Acidogenic Reactor and 0.364 to 9.435Kg COD/m3.d for Methanogenic reactor. The maximum COD removal efficiency was attained 87.54% with OLR of 2.750Kg COD/m3.d in Methanogenic reactor and 27.39% with OLR of 3.578 Kg COD/m3.d Acidogenic reactors. The overall reactor reached the maximum COD removal efficiency of 83.52% with an influent COD of 2864mg/l of pharmaceutical wastewater.