Post-Treatment of UASB Reactor Effluent by Conventional Techniques and Rapid Sand Filtration

This chapter shows some options for post-treatment systems for industrial and domestic wastewater effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB). Conventional technical techniques are divided into aerobic, anaerobic, facultative and aerated ponds; the activated sludge process; submerged aerated biofilter; biological filter; constructed wetlands; dissolved air flotation; and flocculation/decantation. The techniques and rapid sand filtration are divided into double filtration in gravel and sand; double filtration in gravel and clinoptilolite; and triple filtration on gravel, sand and activated charcoal; triple filtration in gravel, sand and clinoptilolite; triple filtration on gravel, sand and activated charcoal/clinoptilolite. The authors’ introduction includes a description of the characteristics, performance and limitations of UASB reactors. This chapter also includes a presentation of each post-treatment system, with its modifications, applications, limitations and performance.