Design and Working of a lab scale UASB reactor for treatment of Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry under study has the main products like Penicillin, Erythromycin and its derivatives. The waste water, coming from these products is highly concentrated with B.O.D., C.O.D. and S.S. So for treatment of this highly concentrated waste water anaerobic treatment (UASB) is advisable. Based on the efficiency and adequacy study of the treatment plant, the average value of B.O.D., C.O.D. and S.S has been found. This paper covers the design of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) from these average values. After preparing the biological culture, the start-up for the UASB reactor requires stable operation. The performance of the UASB model has been evaluated against the incoming COD values v/s the treated COD values and the volumetric loading rate. And the result of the batch activity test, cumulative gas production is analsized.