Avaliação do desempenho de um digestor anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente, com manta de lodo e dispositivo de separação de fases, tratando esgoto doméstico no Nordeste do Brasil.

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of an upflow anaerobic digester SAFA, with phase separation device, treating domestic sewage under prevailing climatic conditions in Northeast Brazil. The study of the anaerobic treatment process comprised the period from June 5, 1989 to May 30, 1990, during which two digesters were operated, one in the real scale with 160 of total capacity and the other in a pilot scale with 4m3, fed continuously with the raw domestic sewage of the neighborhood Pedregal, in the city of Campina Grande, State of Paraíba. During the study, the hydraulic detention time (TDH) was varied from 18.2 to 3.0 hours, in order to determine the relationship between the organic matter removal efficiency and the TDH of the sewage in the digester. The analysis of the experimental results allowed to verify that the DAPA was able to remove 81 and 86 percent of the BOD in the total effluent and decanted, respectively, in a TDH of only 7.2 hours. The COD removal efficiency was 67.5 and 73 percent in the total and decanted effluent, respectively. Also, in this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the application of the process are discussed. It was concluded that in hot climates the process is technically feasible and economically attractive.