Optimization of Fixed and Floating Type Media Based Digester Kinetics for Sugar Factory Effluent

Sugar Factory effluent is one of the most important moderate – high pollution concentration wastewater, which is generated mainly from the mill house washing activities of the sugar factory. The effluent is rich in organic matter resultant from the sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and sugar present in the washwater. The COD of this effluent is variable from 5000 – 10000 mg/L. The aim of the present paper is to analyze the suitability of the floating and fixed film anaerobic digesters as a primary treatment for sugar factory effluent treatment. In this process, the suitability of the units with respect to loading rates was studied and filter treatability and reaction rate constants were obtained. Keywords—Sugar Effluent, Fixed Film, Floating Film, Reaction Kinetics, Biological Treatment.