ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF HIGH SALINE PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER

Abstract

High salinity and complex organic content are two major challenges for biological treatment of saline industrial effluents. In this study, various anaerobic technologies were attempted including anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (AnSBR), up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR), and different types of biomasses as seeding inoculants were studied to investigate an efficient and sustainable process for treatment of high saline pharmaceutical wastewater. A comprehensive study on system start-up, organic removal performance, biogas recovery, membrane fouling behaviors, biomass properties and microbial community compositions were conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of the nature of the anaerobic bio-degradation process.