Start-Up of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor Treating Slaughterhouse Wastewater

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to observe the influence of Organic Loading Rate (OLR) on treating slaughterhouse wastewater PD RPH Medan using UASB reactor during the start-up phase. A laboratory scale UASB reactor with an effective volume of 5.8 L made of PVC pipe with gas-liquid-solid separator at the top of reactor. The reactor was inoculated with mud and fed with wastewater from anaerobic lagoon of PD RPH Medan. The UASB reactor was operated with increasing OLR gradually from 0.64-2.95 kg COD/m3d.The effluent pH is in the optimum range for anaerobic decomposition at OLR 0.64-2.95 kg COD/m3d. Maximum COD and TSS removal efficiencies 58.4% and 85.5%, respectively obtained at OLR 1.01 kg COD/m3d. Maximum biogas production achieved 270 ml/d with COD removal 442 mg/l obtained at OLR 2.95 kg COD/m3d.