Abstract
This paper focuses on the post-treatment options for the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater. Initially, the main limitations of anaerobic systems regarding carbon, nutrients and pathogen removal are presented. In sequence, the advantages of combined anaerobic/aerobic treatment and the main post-treatment options currently in use are discussed, including the presentation of flowsheets and a comparison between various post-treatment systems. Lastly, the paper presents a review of emerging options and possible improvements of current post-treatment alternatives.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aisse MM, Nolasco MA, Andreoli FDN, Lobato MB, Savelli CS, Jurgensen D & Alem Sobrinho P (2000) Pós-tratamento de efluentes provenientes de reatores anaeróbios tipo UASB. In: Proceedings VI Latin-American Workshop and Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion. Recife, Brazil, p. 321–327. (in Portuguese)
Alem Sobrinho P & Jordão EP (2001) Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios – uma análise crítica. Cap. 9. In: Chernicharo CAL (coordenador). Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios. FINEP/PROSAB, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 544 p. (in Portuguese)
Andrade Neto CO, Pereira MG & Melo HNS (2000) Materiais alternativos para o enchimento de filtros anaeróbios: conduíte cortado e tijolo cerâmico vazado. Proceedings VI Latin-American Workshop and Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion. Recife, Brazil, p. 28–35. (in Portuguese)
N Araki A Ohashi I Machdar H Harada (1999) ArticleTitleBehaviors of nitrifiers in a novel biofilm reactor employing hanging sponge-cubes as attachment site Water Sci. Technol. 39 IssueID7 23–31 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00146-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjvFyis7s%3D
Beal L & Monteggia LO (2004) The effect of microfiltration upon methanogenic activity. In: Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion – Anaerobic Digestion 2004. Montreal, Canada, Vol. 1, pp. 389–393
NH Callado E Foresti (2001) ArticleTitleRemoval of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in sequential batch reactors integrating the anaerobic/aerobic processes Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 263–270 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsFWmsrc%3D
PFF Cavalcanti A Haandel Particlevan G Lettinga (2001a) ArticleTitlePolishing ponds for post-treatment of digested sewage Part 1: flow-through ponds Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 237–245 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsFWmsrg%3D
Cavalcanti PFF, van Haandel A, Kato MT, von Sperling M, Luduvice ML & Monteggia LO (2001b). Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios por lagoas de polimento. Cap. 3. In: Chernicharo CAL (coordenador). Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios. FINEP/PROSAB, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 544 p. (in Portuguese)
CAL Chernicharo RMG Machado (1998) ArticleTitleFeasibility of the UASB/AF system for domestic sewage treatment in developing countries Water Sci. Technol. 38 IssueID8–9 325–332 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXislajsQ%3D%3D
CAL Chernicharo MCP Nascimento (2001) ArticleTitleFeasibility of a pilot-scale UASB/trickling filter system for domestic sewage treatment Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 221–228 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsFWmsro%3D
Chernicharo CAL, van Haandel AC, Foresti E & Cybis LF (2001a). Introdução. Cap. 1. In: Chernicharo CAL (coordenador). Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios. FINEP/PROSAB, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 544 p. (in Portuguese)
Chernicharo CAL, van Haandel AC, Cybis LF & Foresti E (2001b). Post treatment of anaerobic effluents in Brazil: State of the art. In: Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion – Anaerobic Digestion 2001. Technologisch Instituut, IWA, Netherlands Association for Water Management. Antuerp, Belgium, 747–752
CAL Chernicharo R Silveira Cota AM Zerbini M Sperling Particlevon LH Novy de Castro Brito (2001) ArticleTitlePos-treatment of anaerobic effluents in an overland flow system Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 229–236 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsFWmsrs%3D
Coraucci Filho B, Nour EAA, Figueiredo RF, Stefanutti R, Klusener Filho LC & Broleze ST (2000) Estudo de um sistema de pós-tratamento de efluente com aplicação do método do escoamento superficial no solo: Polimento de efluentes de filtros anaeróbios. In: Chernicharo CAL (coordenador). Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios. Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios – Coletânea de Artigos Técnicos. FINEP/PROSAB, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Vol. 1. pp. 1–8. (in Portuguese)
Cybis LF & Pickbrenner K (2001) – Uso de RSB em escala piloto para pós-tratamento de efluente de tratamento anaeróbio. Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios – Coletânea de Artigos Técnicos – Vol. 1. p. 193–202, FINEP/PROSAB. (in Portuguese)
Daniel LMC & Foresti E (2004). Nitrogen removal via nitrite in a sequential immobilized biomass batch reactor. In: Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion – Anaerobic Digestion 2004. Montreal, Canada, Vol. 1, p. 367–372
TA Elmitwalli V Sklyar G Zeeman G Lettinga (2002a) ArticleTitleTreatment of domestic sewage in a two-step anaerobic filter/anaerobic hybrid system at low temperature Water Res. 36 2225–2232 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00438-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xjslakurc%3D
TA Elmitwalli V Sklyar G Zeeman G Lettinga (2002b) ArticleTitleLow temperature pre-treatment of domestic sewage in an anaerobic hybrid or an anaerobic filter reactor Bioresour. Technol. 82 233–239 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0960-8524(01)00191-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XkvF2gug%3D%3D
Fitzke B, Km SM Geiβen SU & Vogelpohl A (2004). Anaerobic treatment of low concentrated wastewater with newly developed MBR-systems. Proceedings of the 3rd World Water Congress and Exhibition 2004. Marrakech
E Foresti (2002) ArticleTitleAnaerobic treatment of domestic sewage: established technologies and perspectives Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 181–186 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XntVCgsbw%3D
Garbossa LHP, Lapa KR & Foresti E (2005). Fixed-film radial reactor for nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater utilizing biogas as electron donor. In: Proceedings VIII Latin-American Workshop and Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion. Punta Del Este, Uruguai, p. 195–199
Gonçalves RF, Passamani FRF, Salim FP, Silva ALB, Martineli G & Bauer DG (2000). Associação de um reator UASB e biofiltros aerados submersos para tratamento de esgoto sanitário. Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios – Coletânea de Artigos Técnicos – Vol. 1. pp. 119–134, FINEP/PROSAB. (in Portuguese)
CPL Grady HC Lim (1980) Biological Wastewater Treatment: Theory and Application Marcel Dekker Inc. New York 964
AE Hernández LC Belalcazar MS Rodrígues E Giraldo (2002) ArticleTitleRetention of granular sludge at high hydraulic charges in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor with immersed filtration Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 169–174
S Islas-Lima F Thalasso J Gomes-Hernandez (2004) ArticleTitleEvidence of anoxic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification Water Res. 38 13–16 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.watres.2003.08.024 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXovFGjs7g%3D
Jeison D & van Lier JB (2005). Bio-layer management in anaerobic membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment. In: Proceedings VIII Latin-American Workshop and Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion. Punta Del Este, Uruguai, pp. 117–122
Kato MT, Florencio L & Arantes RFM (2002). Post-treatment of UASB effluent in an EGSB reactor type using flocculent sludge. Proceedings VII Latin American Workshop and Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Mérida, Mexico, Vol. 1, pp. 489–494
G Lettinga A Man A Last W Wiegant K Knippenberg J Frijns J Buren (1993) ArticleTitleAnaerobic treatment of domestic sewae and wastewater Water Sci. Technol. 27 IssueID9 67–73 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmtV2lsbw%3D
I Machdar H Harada A Ohashi Y Sekiguchi H Okuy K Ueki (1997) ArticleTitleA novel and cost-effective sewage treatment system consisting of UASB pre-treatment and aerobic post-treatment units for developing countries Water Sci. Technol. 36 IssueID12 189–197 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0273-1223(97)00739-7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXpt1Sguw%3D%3D
I Machdar Y Sekiguchi H Sumino A Ohashi H Harada (2000) ArticleTitleCombination of a UASB reactor and a curtain type DHS (downflow hanging sponge) reactor as a cost-effective sewage treatment system for developing countries Water Sci. Technol. 42 IssueID3–4 83–88 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXotFWnurg%3D
Metcalf & Eddy (1991). Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. 3rd Ed., 1334 p
Oyanedel V, Garrido JM, Lema JM & Méndez R (2002). A membrane assisted hybrid bioreactor for the post treatment of an anaerobic effluent from a fish canning factory. In: Proceedings VII Latin American Workshop and Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Mérida, Mexico, Vol. 1, pp. 518–5525
Penetra RG, Reali MAP & Campos JR (2002). Influence of flocculation conditions in the performance of an experimental domestic sewage treatment plant consisting of an anaerobic expanded bed reactor followed by dissolved air flotation. Proceedings VII Latin American Workshop and Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Mérida, Mexico, Vol. 1, pp. 503–510
PP Pontes CAL Chernicharo EC Frade MTR Porto (2003) ArticleTitlePerformance evaluation of an UASB reactor used for combined treatment of domestic sewage and excess aerobic sludge from a trickling filter Water Sci. Technol. 48 IssueID6 227–234 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpvFemt7g%3D
Pontes PP (2003). Reatores UASB aplicados ao tratamento combinado de esgotos sanitários e lodo excedente de filtro biológico percolador. Ph.D. Thesis. Federal University of Minas Gerais – School of Engineering, 220 p. (in Portuguese)
K Pynaert S Wyffels R Sprengers P Boeckx Ol Cleemput Particlevan W Verstraete (2002) ArticleTitleOxygen-limited nitrogen removal in a lab-scale rotating biological contactor treating an ammonium-rich wastewater Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 357–363 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XntVCgt7o%3D
CW Randall JL Barnard HD Stensel (1992) Design and retrofit of wastewater treatment plants for biological nutrient removal Technomic Publ. AG, Basel, Switzerland 416
MAP Reali RG Penetra ME Carvalho (2001) ArticleTitleFlotation technique with coagulant and polymer application applied to the post-treatment of effluents of anaerobic reactor treating domestic sewage Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 205–212 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrivFehsw%3D%3D
L Seghezzo G Zeeman JB Lier Particlevan HVM Hamelers G Lettinga (1998) ArticleTitleA review: the anaerobic treatment of sewage in UASB and EGSB reactors Biresour. Technol. 65 190–215
GO Sigge TJ Britz PC Fourie CA Barnardt R Strydom (2002) ArticleTitleCombining UASB technology and advanced oxidation processes (AOP’s) to treat food processing wastewaters Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 329–334 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XntVCgt74%3D
JT Sousa AC Haandel Particlevan AAV Guimarães (2001) ArticleTitlePost-treatment of anaerobic effluents in constructed wetland system Water Sci. Technol. 44 IssueID4 213–219
Souza JT, van Haandel A, Lima EPC & Guimarães AVA (2002). Performance of constructed wetland systems treating anarobic effluents. In: Proceedings VII Latin American Workshop and Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Mérida, Mexico, Vol. 1, p. 511–517
Tai CS, Singh KS & Grant SR (2004). A novel two-stage integrated anaerobic–aerobic biotreatment system for low-strength wastewater. Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion – Anaerobic Digestion 2004. Montreal, Canada, Vol. 2, pp. 1051–1057
M Tandukar S Uemura I Machdar A Ohashi H Harada (2005) ArticleTitleA low-cost municipal sewage treatment system with a combination of UASB and the “fourth generation” downflow hanging sponge reactors Water Sci. Technol. 52 IssueID1–2 323–329 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtFCkurrL
A Tawfik B Klapwijk F El-Gohary G Lettinga (2002) ArticleTitlePost-treatment of effluent from anaerobic (UASB) reactor treating domestic sewage by rotating biological contactor Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 371–376 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XntVCgt7g%3D
Tessele F, Monteggia LO & Rubio J (2004). Treatment of municipal wastewater UASB reactor effluent by unconventional flotation and UV disinfection. In: Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion – Anaerobic Digestion 2004. Montreal, Canada, Vol. 2, pp. 933–939
F Thalasso A Vallecillo P Garcia-Encina F Fernadez-Polanco (1997) ArticleTitleThe use of methane as a sole carbon source for wastewater denitrification Water Res. 31 IssueID1 55–60 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0043-1354(96)00228-X Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXls1Oiug%3D%3D
S Uemura K Takahashi A Takaishi I Machdar A Ohashi H Harada (2002) ArticleTitleRemoval of indigenous coliphages and fecal coliforms by a novel sewage treatment system consisting of UASB and DHS units Water Sci. Technol. 46 IssueID11–12 303–309 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Fhs12rtA%3D%3D
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1981) Process design manual: Land treatment of municipal wastewater, EPA 625/1-81-013, Cincinnati, OH
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1984). Process design manual: Land treatment of municipal wastewater: supplement on rapid infiltration and overland flow, EPA 625/1-81-013a, Cincinnati, OH
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1986) Municipal Wastewater Disinfection – Design Manual, EPA/625/1-86/021, Cincinnati, 247 p
AC Haandel Particlevan G Lettinga (1994) Anaerobic Sewage Treatment in Regions With a Hot Climate John Wiley and Sons Chichester, UK
van Haandel AC & Guimarães P (2000) Modelamento do tratamento anaeróbio-aeróbio usando-se o reator UASB e lodo ativado em bateladas sequenciais. Pós-tratamento de efluentes de reatores anaeróbios – Coletânea de Artigos Técnicos. Vol. 1, p. 143–153, FINEP/PROSAB. (in Portuguese)
M Sperling Particlevon CAL Chernicharo AME Soares AM Zerbini (2002) ArticleTitleColiform and helminth eggs removal in a combined UASB reactor – baffled pond system in Brazil: performance evaluation and mathematical modelling Water Sci. Technol. 45 IssueID10 237–242
von Sperling M & Mascarenhas LCAM (2004). Performance of very shallow ponds treating effluents from an UASB reactor. In: Proceedings 6th International Conference on Waste Stabilization Ponds. IWA. Avignon, France
von Sperling M, Bastos RKX & Kato MT (2004). Removal of E. coli and helminth eggs in UASB – polishing pond systems. Proceedings 6th International Conference on Waste Stabilization Ponds. IWA. Avignon, France
M Sperling Particlevon CAL Chernicharo (2005) Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions IWA Publishing London 1452
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chernicharo, C.A.L. Post-Treatment Options for the Anaerobic Treatment of Domestic Wastewater. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 5, 73–92 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-005-5683-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-005-5683-5