Biological treatment of milk processing wastewater in a sequencing batch flexible fibre biofilm reactor

Abstract

Biological treatment of dairy wastewater was investigated using a laboratory scale aerobic sequencing batch flexible fibre biofilm reactor (SBFFBR). The SBFFBR system was modified from a typical sequencing batch reactor system by using eight flexible fibre bundles with a very high specific surface area, which served as support for microorganisms. The reactor was operated under different influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations (610, 2041 and 4382 mg l−1) and constant hydraulic retention times of 1.6 days. The results have shown successful applicability of the SBFFBR system to treat this dairy wastewater. High COD removal efficiencies between 89.7 and 97% were achieved at average organic loading rates of 0.4 and 2.74 kg COD m−3 d−1, respectively.