Comparison between the presence and absence of mixing in the anaerobic biological treatment of liquid waste for the cheese industry

Abstract

Many nations are seeing an increase in water pollution from dairy and cheese production due to the high organic and fat content in their waste products and the high temperature of their waste products, which elevates the water temperature and causes loss to ecosystem components. Reusing industrial wastewater that has been treated to guarantee no harm has been done to the environment is being hampered by a lack of water. This study compares the presence and absence of mixing in the anaerobic biological treatment of liquid waste for the cheese industry. To decrease heat exchange with the external environment, cube-shaped anaerobic reactors with dimensions of (30 x 30 x 30) cm and thick glass (10 mm) were utilized in this investigation. The temperature of the two reactors was 35°C, with the first reactor containing a mixture and the second reactor containing no mixture. Samples were obtained every five days and evaluated in the laboratory to monitor changes in the characteristics of liquid cheese waste during the treatment period, which was 30 days. The indicators (pH, EC, TDS, TSS, COD, and Alkalinity) were used, and a total of 72 tests were performed throughout the research period for each indicator. The results appeared that the first anaerobic reactor with the combination removed 95.1 % COD, whereas the second reactor that did not contain the mixture removed 94.1 % COD. The anaerobic reactors are very efficient in treating COD; the COD removal rate in the first reactor with the combination was 1.9 %, while the COD removal rate in the second reactor without mixing was 94.1 %. The increase in pH in the first and second reactors, followed by achieving the neutralization value, is proof of anaerobic reactor success. Total dissolved solids removal was achieved in anaerobic reactors in the first reactor (7.5 %) and peaked in the second reactor (17.83). The proportion of TSS removed in the first anaerobic reactor was 57.9%, and in the second reactor, it was 60.3 %. From all above can be concluded that the presence of mixing had a slight and negligible positive effect on the anaerobic reactors Keywords. Mixture, Liquid Waste, Cheese Industry, Anaerobic reactors.