Effects of filter ratio and operation mode on the efficiency of anaerobic filter treating molasses wastewater

In this thesis, treatability studies were realized by using an upflow anaerobic filter model reactor that is accepted as one of the most economical systems in the world. Hydraulic retention time, filter material ratio, organic loading rate, temperature and operation mode, which are design and performance parameters, were evaluated at four upflow anaerobic filter reactors having different filter material ratios in the study.During the study anaerobic filter reactors were fed with the synthetic wastewater containing molasses. Experimental studies were examined at different organic loading rates varied between 0.5 and 2.0 kg COD/m³day for hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2 days at temperature range of 37 ± 1°C. Four anaerobic filter reactors called as UAF 100, UAF 75, UAF 50 and UAF 25 according to filter material ratio were operated at continuous and semi-continuous operation mode.Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solid (TS) and total volatile solid (TVS) analyses were done for evaluate the performance of upflow anaerobic filter reactors during the study. When the results of this analysis were compared, COD, TS and TVS removal efficiencies were affected by continuous operation mode and filter material ratio in anaerobic filters. Depending on operation mode, the highest COD, TS and TVS removal efficiencies were achieved at continuous mode than the semi-continuous mode.