COMPARISON BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND FIXED-FILM SEQUENCING BATCH REACTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF SCREENED DAIRY MANURE

Two 5.0 litre laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) operat ed at room temperature were used to treat screened dairy manure. One r eactor was modified through the installation of a fixed-film structure made from pinewood panels so as to comprise a fixed-film SBR (FFSBR). The fixed-film structure was positioned on the upper part of the FFSB R reactor in such a way that it did not alter or disturb the operation of the SBR system. When both reactors were operated at a short cycle coupled with a relatively high organic loading rate, the fixed-film mi crobial retention in the FFSBR improved process stability and treatmen t efficiency.