A Comparison of Biosolids Production and System Efficiency between Activated Sludge, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor, and Sequencing Batch Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor in the Dairy Wastewater Treatment

Dairy industry wastewater is rich in organic content, presenting a high biodegradability, and therefore biological treatments are widely employed. This study aimed to evaluate biosolids production three systems: activated sludge (AS), movingbed biofilm reactor (MBBR), sequencingbatch (SBMBBR). Simulated dairy was used at different load rates (OLRs): 1.22, 2.87, 5.44 gCOD L−1d−1. Besides production, COD, total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency evaluated. Biosolids measured the mixed liquor, carrier-adhered biomass, treated wastewater, surplus sludge. The operational conditions were kept similar for systems, with carrier filling ratio of 50% MBBR SBMBBR. SBMBBR proved have better performance efficiencies TC, TN all OLRs studied. presented COD TC as SBBR two highest (2.87 L−1d−1). Concerning system produced less biomass delivered lowest amount adhered inside carriers. AS treatment generated offered worst capability