Effect of 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane on the Performance of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) Reactors

Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAH) are important environmental pollutants since they are industrially used for a wide variety of applications. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are cited as important contributors to the inhibition of anaerobic digestion. In this work, the effect of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) on the performance of upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors fed with sucrose synthetic wastewater has been studied. According to the results obtained it can be concluded the possibility to use UASB reactors with granular sludge to treat industrial wastewaters with a continuous content of TCE up to a concentration of 130 mg/l or with incidental punctual discharges of high concentration of the toxicant up to 400 mg/l. In all cases in which the activity of the reactor was inhibited a fast recuperation was observed.