The UASB reactor (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) has been used extensively in Europe, Asia and Latin America, especially in Brazil. In Mexico, there are 20 plants for industrial water treatment; likewise, there are 14 municipal and domestic plants that use UASB reactor with our technology.
Due to metabolism of the microorganisms involved, anaerobic processes do not demand oxygen (electrical consumption for aeration is not requirred). Besides, the smallest amount of sludge (solid waste) is generated in a water treatment system, and a by-product with high added value is obtained: biogas, capable of being taken advantage of.
The UASB is particularly suitable for treating industrial wastewater with high concentration of biodegradable organic matter; however, it can also be applied in diluted wastewater, as municipal effluents. Among the diverse anaerobic technologies for wastewater treatment, the UASB reactor has the highest acceptance due to the lower investment costs and its compact facilities.
It has the same principle as the UASB reactor; however, it includes a packing bed above the sludge bed to have an UASB operation with greater organic load. It is particularly suitable for treating water with a high content of suspended biodegradable solids.
The EGSB reactor represents a modification in the design of a UASB reactor, so that by promoting better mass transfer the same amount of contaminant can be treated in a very small volume.
With IBTech®s technology, the EGSB reactor has a slim figure because the tank has a height of at least 10 meters which occupies a very small area (small footprint). The reactor is capable of operating with higher volumetric organic loads up to 20 kgDQO/m3/d.
This reactor is characterized by the generation of exclusively granular sludge with very high sedimentability. This allows the biomass to be retained although the water velocity and the upward flow of the biogas are considerably high. The secret of IBTech®´s design is the phase separator which is located on the top of the reactor; the patent is in process.
Anaerobic lagoons are often used to treat wastewater with a high content of organic matter, usually wastewater from industries located in remote rural areas. These lagoons are, generally, covered with a floating geomembrane to improve anaerobic digestion. It also allows the reduction of odor from anaerobic activity and the collection of methane gas to be used as fuel.
These lagoons can treat wastewater with a BOD concentration of 400 to 5 000 kg/m3, the effluent can have a BOD reduction greater than 90%. The retention time is 4 to 20 days. Mechanical action is required only at the beginning to supply residual water to the lagoon and, in addition, the overflow of water is allowed.