The Upflow Anaerobic

Sludge Blanket Process

UASB

A compilation by IPPTS Associates

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

Up ow anaerobic sludge blanket

digestion

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology,

normally referred to as UASB reactor, is a form of anaerobic digester that is used

for wastewater treatment.

The UASB reactor is a methanogenic (methane-producing) digester that evolved

from the anaerobic clarigester. A similar but variant technology to UASB is the
expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) digester.

UASB uses an anaerobic process whilst forming a blanket of granular sludge

which suspends in the tank. Wastewater ows upwards through the blanket and
is processed (degraded) by the anaerobic microorganisms. The upward ow
combined with the settling action of gravity suspends the blanket with the aid of
occulants. The blanket begins to reach maturity at around three months. Small
sludge granules begin to form whose surface area is covered in aggregations of
bacteria. In the absence of any support matrix, the ow conditions create a
selective environment in which only those microorganisms capable of attaching
to each other survive and proliferate. Eventually the aggregates form into dense
compact biofilms referred to as "granules".[2]

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
Biogas with a high concentration of methane is produced as a by-product, and
this may be captured and used as an energy source, to generate electricity for
export and to cover its own running power. The technology needs constant
monitoring when put into use to ensure that the sludge blanket is maintained, and
not washed out (thereby losing the effect). The heat produced as a by-product of
electricity generation can be reused to heat the digestion tanks.

The blanketing of the sludge enables a dual solid and hydraulic (liquid) retention
time in the digesters. Solids requiring a high degree of digestion can remain in the
reactors for periods up to 90 days.[3] Sugars dissolved in the liquid waste stream
can be converted into gas quickly in the liquid phase which can exit the system in
less than a day.

UASB reactors are typically suited to dilute waste water streams (3% TSS with
particle size >0.75mm).

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
With UASB, the process of settlement and digestion occurs in one or more large
tank(s). The ef uent from the UASB, which has a much reduced BOD
concentration, usually needs to be treated further, for example with the activated
sludge blanket process, depending on the effluent quality requirements.

Wikipedia ends. IWA Wiki content starts

Up Flow - Anaerobic Sludge Blanket

Reactor (UASB)
Content Table

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
Up Flow - Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB)
About Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment
About Up flow-Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB)
Concept and Design
Animation of UASB Reactor
UASB Reactor Height and Area
Gas Liquid Solid (GLS) Separator
Comparison Between Anaerobic and Aerobic Process
Function and Application
Advantages
Disadvantages
Case study
Cairo, Egypt
Conclusion
References
Related Articles
Related Publications
About Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment
Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment is a wastewater treatment system using
biology that without using of air or oxygen. It aimed to remove organic pollution
in wastewater, slurries and sludge. Anaerobic microorganisms convert organic
pollutants into a “biogas” which contains methane and carbon dioxide.1
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

Conversion of Organic Pollutants to Biogas by Anaerobic Microorganisms

Up ow anaerobic sludge blanket technology also known as UASB reactor is a

form of anaerobic digester which used in wastewater treatment. UASB reactor is
a methane-producing digester, which uses an anaerobic process and forming a
blanket of granular sludge and is processed by the anaerobic microorganisms.2

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

Concept and Design

UASB reactor is based on the so-called three-phase separator, which enables the
reactor to separate gas, water and sludge mixtures under high turbulence
conditions. This allows for compact, cheaper designs.1

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
The reactor has multiple gas hoods for the separation of biogas. As a result the
extremely large gas/water interfaces greatly reduce turbulence, making relatively
high loading rates of 10 – 15 kg/m3.d possible. Separation in the UASB reactor
requires only 1.0 meter of height, which prevents otation effects and,
consequently, floating layers.

Generally, during the treatment of UASB reactor, the substrate passes through
an expanded sludge bed which containing a high concentration of biomass rst.
After that, the remaining part of substrate passes through a less dense biomass
which named the sludge blanket.

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
The in uent is pumped to the UASB reactor from bottom of it by Peristaltic
pump. The in uent move upwards and get contact with the biomass in sludge
bed, then continue to move upwards and the rest substrates act with the biomass
again in the sludge blanket which has a less concentration of biomass compared
with the sludge bed below.

The volume of sludge blanket must be suf cient to conduct the further treatment
to wastewater by-passed from the lower layer of sludge bed by channeling. At the
same time, it will help to ensure a stable ef uent quality. A 3 phases (Gas-Liquid-
Solid or GLS) separator located above the sludge blanket to separate the solid
particles from the mixture (gas, liquid, and solid) after treatment and hence
allowing liquid and gas to leave the UASB reactor.

UASB Reactor Height and Area

http://www.uasb.org/discover/uasb-animation.htm

Animation of UASB Reactor

The average full-scale design loading of the UASB of 682 full-scale plants
surveyed was 10 kg COD/m3.d.

After the treated wastewater will be collected by the ef uent collection system
via number of launders distributed over entire area discharging, to main launder
provided at periphery of the reactor. And the biogases generated will be collected
as the valuable fuel or for deposal.

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
In addition, the sludge bed occupies 30 to 60% of the total reactor volume, 20 to
30% of the total volume is provided for sludge blanket and GLS separator
occupies remaining 15 to 30% of the total volume.

To reduce the plan area and to reduce the cost of land, GLS separator and
in uent distribution arrangement etc. the reactor should be as high as possible.
And the height of thesludge bed should be suf cient to minimize the channelling
and to make sure the liquid up ow velocity within the maximum permissible
limits (1.2 – 1.5 m/h). Therefore, the height of the sludge bed should be at least
about 1.5 to 2.5 meters and hence the height of the reactor should be restricted
to 4 meters to provide convenient accommodation for sludge bed, sludge blanket
and 3 phases separator. As the standard mentioned, the maximum height of the
reactor is around 8 meters but the applicable height in common usage is between
4.5 and 6 meters.

Gas Liquid Solid (GLS) Separator

The main objective of this design is to facilitate the sludge return without help of
any external energy and control device. The function of the GLS separator is to
provide enough gas-water interfaces inside the gas dome, suf cient settling area
out side the dome to control surface over ow rate; and suf cient aperture
opening at bottom to avoid turbulence due to high inlet velocity of liquid in the
settler, to allow proper return of solid back to the reactor. Due attention has to be
paid to the geometry of the unit and its hydraulics, to ensure proper working of
the GLS separator.

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
Table 1: Anaerobic vs Aerobic Treatment for 1000 kg CODB/d - NOT
INCLUDED

Comparison Between Anaerobic and Aerobic

Process
Figure 2: Details of the Gas-Liquid-Solid (GLS) Separator

(For a given biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (CODB) waste load)

Advantages
Breweries and beverage industry
Distilleries and fermentation industry
Food Industry
Pulp and paper.

Function and Application

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
During the treatment process a amount of valuable biogas energy will be
produced which can be collected for other usage;
A low energy requirement for the treatment process;
Much less bio-solids waste generated compared with aerobic process
because much of the energy in the wastewater is converted to a gaseous
form and resulting in very little energy left for new cell growth;
Less nutrients required;
Anaerobic treatment cannot achieve surface water discharge quality without
post-treatment;

Disadvantages
Can handle organic shock loads effectively.
System can be shut down for extended periods without serious
deterioration; and
Reduced sulphur compounds are produced, which need to be properly
addressed in terms of corrosion, odour and safety; and
Longer start-up period.
Some equipment (i.e. pH meter, thermometer etc.) and professional staff is
necessary for monitoring the internal condition of the reactor. It is costly.
A proper temperature range is required for the anaerobic process (15oC to
35oC), therefore it is not applicable during cold season in certain countries.
(i.e. Canada)

Case study

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

Cairo, Egypt
This study was carried out to propose an appropriate treatment technology for
wastewater discharged from a avor production factory. Industrial wastewater
discharged from this factory ranges between 50–70 m3/d with an average value
of 60 m3/d. The major source of pollution in this factory is due to cleaning of the
vessels therefore the treatment has been carried out on the end-of pipe
wastewater.

The wastewater is characterized by high values of COD, BOD, TSS and Oil and
grease 4646, 2298, 1790 and 626 mg/l respectively. Primary sedimentation of
the wastewater for four hours reduced the COD, BOD, TSS and Oil and grease
by 43, 47, 80 and 74%, respectively. For the treatment of the produced
wastewater, the biological treatment process such as activated sludge, rotating
biological contactor (RBC), up- ow anaerobic sludge bed reactor (UASB) have
been selected.

The results from each treatment process proved to be ef cient for the treatment
of such wastewater. The treated wastewater characteristics are in compliance
with the Egyptian law which regulates the discharge of industrial wastewater to
the sewerage system.

As we had mentioned earlier, these are the 4 top applications of the reactors:

Conclusion

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB
In conclusion, the Up ow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor is a form of
anaerobic digester that is used in the treatment of wastewater. It’s typically
suited to dilute waste water streams (3% TSS with particle size >0.75mm).

Together, these four industrial sectors account for 87% of the applications.
However, the applications of the technology are rapidly expanding, including:

Breweries and beverage industry

Distilleries and fermentation industry
Food Industry
Pulp and paper
4. Conversions in the sulfur cycle and removal of metals.

3. landfill leachates

2. textile industry wastewater

1. Treatment of chemical and petrochemical industry effluents

http://www.uasb.org/discover/.anaerobic_biotechnologies.htm#awwt

Furthermore in warm climates, the UASB concept is also suitable for treatment
of domestic wastewater.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upflow_anaerobic_sludge_blanket_digestion

http://students.washington.edu/patkub/uasb-schema.jpg

http://www.biogas-cn.com/gzsl/uasb-01.JPG

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

References
http://www.uasb.org/discover/agsb.htm

http://www.paques.nl/?pid=43&parentid=41

http://www.stevenspublishing.com/Stevens/WWPPub.nsf/frame?
open&redirect=http://www.stevenspublishing.com/stevens/wwppub.nsf/d3d5b4f938b
OpenDocument

http://www.waterandwastewater.com/www_services/ask_tom_archive/design_of_an_ua

http://www.springerlink.com/content/j1qunp1322t76075/

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Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process
UASB

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Wikipedia: USAB Page

IWA Water Wiki (http://www.iwawaterwiki.org) / CC BY-SA 3.0 Minor

typographic changes only made, during compilation.
Content was compiled from:

Gathering Unpublished Data for Chemicals Detected in Biosolids - Charles

Pittinger, Andrew Maier and Drew C. McAvoy, Publication Date: Jan 2013 -
ISBN - 9781780401102

Benchmarking of Control Strategies for Wastewater Treatment Plants - Krist V

Gernaey, Ulf Jeppsson, Peter A Vanrolleghem, John B Copp and Jean-Philippe
Steyer Publication Date: Feb 2013 - ISBN - 9781843391463

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process UASB