Removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand from domestic wastewaters in a laboratory-scale anaerobic waste stabilization pond

Anaerobic waste stabilization ponds (AWSPs) have been extensively used to treat both domestic and industrial wastewaters. In this study two laboratory-scale AWS columns (591 each) were operated using domestic wastewater in a repeated batch model. Data from one of the reactors was used to develop a dynamic model to describe the removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). This model was applied to the other reactor data to test the reliability of the model, and was found to be appropriate. Rate constant for SCOD removal and temperature correction coefficient were 0.325 g SCOD g−1 MLVSS day−1 (for 20°C) and 1.017, respectively. The minimum hydraulic detention time in AWSP should be more than 4 days. For the land-scale application of an AWSP, SCOD loading rate must be lower than 0.15 kg SCOD m−3 day−1. Methane production rate was found to be 0.29 m3 CH4 kg−1 CODremoved.