Effective wastewater treatment in warm climates

The UASB reactor has been designed to concentrate bacteria in an upflow sludge blanket for wastewater treatment in warm climates, outperforming traditional anaerobic processes and cutting costs too

For wastewater treatment in warm climates, Black and Veatch Contracting can now provide a cost-cutting alternative to conventional aerobic processes.

The UASB reactor, which has been designed to concentrate bacteria in an upflow sludge blanket, also outperforms traditional anaerobic processes.

Whilst anaerobic treatment can reduce sludge volumes by converting waste into biogas, the 95% BOD removal of aerobic processes cannot be achieved.

However, the UASB successfully reduces operating costs because solids production is minimised and only 25% of the BOD needs to be treated aerobically.

Originally developed by Professor Gatze Lettinga in the Netherlands, UASB reactors are already being installed by Black and Veatch in the United Arab Emirate of Ajman.

Followed by a submerged aerated filter (SAF), and deep bed filters (DBF), tertiary effluent standards of 10mg/l TSS and BOD will be achieved.

There is also the additional benefit that the chlorinated effluent can be used for much-needed irrigation, as it still contains valuable nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients.

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