Study on Granulation of Anaerobic Sludge in UASB Reactor Adding Cationic Polymer Treating Low Strength Wastewater at Room Temperature

Effect of cationic polymer on granulation and COD removal efficiency in lab scale UASB reactors was examined, treating low-strength wastewater (COD 300-500mg l-1) at room temperature. It was shown that cationic polymer was more effective for enhancing sludge granulation and COD removal efficiency as compared to the control experiment (without additives). After day 166 of operation, the amount of granules size above 0.5mm accounted for 32.1% of total sludge, higher than that of control experiment (19.3%). At 1.03 kg COD m-3 d-1 of OLR and 9.8 h of HRT, the effluent VFA had a maximum value of 168mg l-1 and 240mg l-1 in Reactor A and B respectively. The polymer-amended reactor took 36days to receive 1.44 kg COD m-3 d-1 of OLR at the 7.8 h of HRT, shorter than the control reactor (54days). The two reactors obtained above 80% in COD removal efficiency. It is shown that UASB reactor can also achieve higher COD removal treating low strength wastewater at room temperature.