ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF CHEESE WHEY IN A 2-PHASE UASB REACTOR

The whey produced by the cheese industries can be anaerobically treated. The main operational limitations for single phase reactors are instability and the necessity of adding alkalinity. A double phase reactor has been used and a new operational strategy is proposed. The recirculation of the effluent of the metanization reactor produces a dilution of the influent that allows a good stability of the system without the necessity of adding alkalinity. COD removal higher than 99% can be obtained operating with Bv = 30 Kg m-3 d-1 in the acidification reactor (tBAR = 0.45 d) and Bv = 15 Kg m-3 d-1 in the metanization reactor (tBAR = 0.75 d).