MODEL EVALUATION OF HYBRID ANAEROBIC BAFFLED REACTOR TREATING MOLASSES WASTE-WATER

The anaerobic treatment of high strength molasses wastewater (molasses alcohol stillage and raw molasses) in a 1501 working volume hybrid anaerobic baffled reactor (HABR) was studied. At an organic loading rate of 20 kg COD/m3 day, the reactor achieved total and soluble COD removals in excess of 70%. Gas production rates exceeded five volumes per day per unit volume of reactor. A mathematical model of the baffled reactor performance was developed using a concept of completely mixed reactors operated in series. The kinetic analysis focused on the granular sludge bed, with total mass of granular sludge as the main parameter. The model results were in good agreement with experimental data. This kinetic analysis approach may be applicable for other kinds of blanket anaerobic reactors.