UASB process design for various types of wastewaters

Abstract

ANAEROBIC digestion processes offer great potential for the treatment of many types of wastewaters. In a country like the Netherlands, anaerobic treatment presently is accepted as a grown-up technology. In many other countries this unfortunately still is not the case. Some reasons for this—in many cases—obstinate reluctance are the following: (1) Lack of adequate information about the performance of installed anaerobic treatment systems (2) Lack of knowledge of the basic principles of the process in the established world of sanitary engineering; in many cases there even exists a serious prejudice (3) Commercial interest in the established wastewater control world, for instance because most companies and/or individuals have invested in knowledge and property rights using conventional systems (4) Lack of academic status, particularly in engineering aspects (5) Lack of infrastructure, networks, research, and educational centers (6) The fact that it is more biotechnology than civil/sanitary engineering (7) Acceptance problems for a technology which was not developed in their own institute or company.