Application of the upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) process for treatment of complex wastewaters at low temperatures

The feasibility of the upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) process for the treatment of potato starch wastewater at low ambient temperatures was demonstrated by operating two 5.65‐L reactors at 14°C and 20°C, respectively. The organic space loading rates achieved in these laboratory‐scale reactors were 3 kg COD/m3/day at 14°C and 4‐5 kg COD/m3/day at 20°C. The corresponding sludge loading rates were 0.12 kg COD/kg VSS/day at 14°C and 0.16−0.18 kg COD/kg VSS/day at 20°C.