IMPACT OF THE HYDRAULIC LOADING RATE ON THE HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ANAEROBIC FIXED BED REACTOR TREATING CATTLE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WASTEWATER

ABSTRACT The hydrodynamic behavior of an anaerobic fixed bed reactor (AFBR) was evaluated in the treatment of cattle slaughterhouse wastewater. The AFBR was operated at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 14, 11 and 8 h. Stimulus-response assays were carried out with Eosin Y and the experimental data were adjusted to the single-parameter theoretical models of dispersion and N-continuous stirred tank reactors in series (N-CSTR). The experimental results of the residence time distribution curves showed that at lower flow rate, the reactor showed plug flow behavior with correlation coefficient (r) ...