Shock load response in an SBR-activated sludge process treating high load wastewater

In this study, the production of storage polymers is made when cheese production wastewater is treated. Cheese plants typically produce high-strength wastewaters on an intermittent basis and are particularly suitable for treatment in Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) systems. The SBRs were operated in triplicate under two filling scenarios: 'React Fill' (RF) with mixing/aeration; 'Static Fill' (SF) with no mixing/aeration. The results suggest that an 'SF' approach outperforms an 'RF' with respect to storage products production (50% more PHB, 15% more glycogen). Additionally, the famine phase duration will vary depending on wastewater strength, suggesting optimisation per waste stream.