THE ANAEROBIC FILTRATION OF DAIRY WASTE - RESULTS OF A PILOT TRIAL

Results are presented from a pilot scale (4.3 m(3)) up flow anaerobic filter for the treatment of the wastewater from ice-cream manufacture. The reactor was completely mixed by gas production but the solids or sludge held within the reactor were shown to be affected by the liquid velocities. The reactor was subject to a number of organic and hydrau lic shocks and this reduced the consistency of COD removal. Daily load ing rates varied from 0 to 18 kg COD/m(3)/day but with an average load of 5.5 kg/m(3)/day the mean COD removal was 70%. This was compared wi th previous work and shown to be a typical performance for an anaerobi c filter. Alkalinity and carboxylic acid data are also presented and w ere within the normal, stable, operating range. Previous research on t he anaerobic treatment of industrial effluents has shown alkalinity to be the most important factor controlling reliability.