Kinetics of Organic Biodegradation and Biogas Production in the Pilot-Scale Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) for Piggery Wastewater Treatment

In this research, the kinetics of COD biodegradation and biogas production in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) at pilot scale (10 m(3)) for piggery wastewater treatment were investigated. Polyethylene (PE) was used as a carrying material, with organic loading rates (OLRs) of 10, 15, and 18 kgCOD/m(3) day in accordance to hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 0.56, 0.37, and 0.3 day. The results showed that a high COD removal efficiency was obtained in the range of 68–78% with the influent COD of 5.2–5.8 g/L at all 3 HRTs. About COD degradation kinetics, in comparison to the first- and second-order kinetics and the Monod model, Stover–Kincannon model showed the best fit with R(2) 0.98 and a saturation value constant (K(B)) and a maximum utilization rate (U(max)) of 52.40 g/L day and 82.65 g/L day, respectively. The first- and second-order kinetics with all 3 HRTs and Monod model with the HRT of 0.56 day also obtained high R(2) values. Therefore, these kinetics and models can be further considered to be used for predicting the kinetic characteristics of the MBBR system in piggery wastewater treatment process. The result of a 6-month operation of the MBBR was that biogas production was mostly in the operating period of days 17 to 80, around 0.2 to 0.3 and 0.15–0.20 L/gCOD(converted), respectively, and then reduction at an OLR of 18 kgCOD/m(3). After the start-up stage, day 35 biogas cumulative volume fluctuated from 20 to 30 m(3)/day and reached approximately 3500 m(3) for 178 days during the whole digestive process. Methane is accounted for about 65–70% of biogas with concentration around 400 mg/L.