Anaerobic treatment of municipal sewage in the psychrophilic conditions

Psychrophilic anaerobic process is an attractive option for sewage treated at moderate and low temperature. The article discusses possibilities of municipal sewage treatment in an upflow anaerobic filter (UAF), operated in the psychrophilic conditions. Investigations were carried out in laboratory scale and the temperature of the bioreactor varied between 1720oC. The investigations comprised two series of tests. The values of hydraulic retention time (HRT) amounted to 30 and 48 h. The digestion feedstock comprised of sewage taken from a treatment plant (WWTP Bielsko-Biala, Komorowice), operated in a full scale. The treatment process of sewage with the application of The UAF reactor system has shown positive results in the laboratory scale of studies. The process ensured a high effluent quality COD < 200 mgO2/dm, however, degree of COD removal depended on the value of HRT used.