Abstract
The application of biofilm-based processes such as up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors for saline wastewater treatment faces the problems of low strength and stability of granules cause by high salt concentration. In this study, the effect of biochar/Fe addition on biofilm formation was examined in anaerobic treatment of high salinity (10 g-Na+/L) wastewater with two parallel lab-scale UASBs. Higher removal efficiencies of soluble influent organics and methane production were achieved in the biochar/Fe seeded UASB reactor with an organic loading rate (OLR) ranging from 2.5 to 10 g-COD/L/d. The average SS concentration of the granular sludge in the biochar/Fe seeded UASB reactor reached 21.6 g/L while that in the non-biochar/Fe-seeded UASB one was 16.4 g/L. A higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of 91.1 mg/g-VSS and medium particle size (D50) of 63.2 µm in the granular sludge with biochar/Fe addition were observed. All these results suggest that biochar/Fe addition can effectively improve biofilm formation under high salinity conditions.
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