Influence of agitation rate on the performance of a stirred anaerobic sequencing batch reactor containing immobilized biomass

The present work reports on the influence of the mechanical agitation rates on the performance of a stirred anaerobic sequencing batch reactor containing immobilized biomass on polyurethane foam, as inert support, treating synthetic domestic wastewater. The reactor was operated at 30°C and an 8-hour cycle was used to treat approximately 0.5 L of the synthetic substrate with a COD concentration of nearly 500 mg/L. The studied agitation rates ranged from no agitation to 750 rpm. The system attained non-filtered substrate removal efficiency greater than 83% when agitation was employed. A very short start-up period and good solid retention could be observed. The use of agitation increased the efficiency of the reactor and enabled reduction of the total cycle time. An empirical equation and a first-order kinetic model are proposed to analyze the influence of agitation rates on the reactor's performance.