PRESERVATION CHARACTERISTICS OF UASB SLUDGES

Anaerobic treatment has become popular as an effective means for the t reatment of high strength wastewaters, however, quantitative research on the preservation characteristics of anaerobic sludges is necessary when an anaerobic reactor is considered for use in industries operatin g intermittently. This research investigated preservation characterist ics of anaerobic sludges in terms of storing age and environmental con ditions. For this purpose, sludge obtained from a full scale reactor w as used as seed sludge for several laboratory scale batch reactors. Af ter cultivation, the reactors were stored at room temperature, 4 degre es C, -18 degrees C, and 37 degrees C without feeding for different st orage periods up to 12 months. After storage, changes in physicochemic al and microbial characteristics were monitored in terms of storing pe riod and temperature. VSS, TSS, COD ir the liquid phase were measured. Microbial activities were expressed as specific methanogenic activity . The results indicated that anaerobic sludges can be effectively used for intermittently produced wastewaters.