MODEL-BASED OPTIMIZATION OF CARRIER ANAEROBIC BAFFLED REACTOR FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER UNDER VARIABLE TEMPERATURES

Abstract

Variations in operating temperature can significantly affect the treatment behavior of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), while experimental evaluation at low temperatures is challenging and resource-intensive. This study employed process modeling to assess and optimize the performance of a carrier anaerobic baffled reactor (CABR) across a range of temperatures. The model was calibrated using organics removal data and validated for suspended solids (SS) removal at HRTs of 24 to 6 h, with average absolute relative errors of 11.1% and 13.3%, respectively, within the acceptable 7–15% range. The validated model was then applied to predict the organics and SS removal at temperatures of 35, 32, 28, and 20 °C and HRTs from 24 to 6 h, identifying the optimum HRTs required to meet effluent standards. The results demonstrated that carrier media effectively enhance biomass retention, enabling efficient treatment at reduced HRTs, and provide a cost-effective strategy for compact and reliable decentralized wastewater treatment under variable operational temperatures.