Anaerobic Methods of Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Technical Information W3e
Anaerobic methods of Technical Field:

Energy / Environment (E)
Water / Sanitation (W)
municipal wastewater Agriculture (A)

Foodprocessing (F)
Manufacturing (M)
treatment This Technical Information is

available in:
English (e)
Naturgerechte Technologien, Bau- und Wirtschaftsberatung French (f)
German (g)
TBW GmbH, Frankfurt Spanish (s)
March 2001 Other:..............................
Municipal wastewater treatment often

combines anaerobic and aerobic treatment
1 Introduction
steps in order to achieve the best possible
During anaerobic bacterial degradation purification and hygienisation results.
of organic matter (i.e. in the absence of Under “real life” conditions in developing
oxygen), methane gas (CH4), carbon countries, typical full scale process
dioxide (CO2) and traces of other combinations (as presented in Fig. 1) are
elements are produced. CH4 can be however rarely entirely realised. Instead,
utilised as renewable energy source, often only the main treatment steps
substituting fossil fuels. Speaking of (aerobic wastewater treatment without a
wastewater treatment, an additional sludge digestion or anaerobic UASB
benefit of anaerobic processes is the treatment of sludge and wastewater
reduction of total bio-solids volume by without a post-treatment of the
50-80%, which is more than aerobic wastewater) are put in place in order to
processes achieve. Moreover, the final reduce the most severe environmental
sludge is biologically stable and can effects. Accordingly, post-treatment steps
serve as fertilizer or soil conditioner for – shown in Fig. 1 below the dotted line –
agriculture. Some traditionally are often not realised in developing
implemented anaerobic technologies countries as yet . Future considerations do
(e.g. septic tanks) are suitable for however have to be based on more
domestic wastewater treatment at the stringent decomposition values,
single household level or for facilities environmental, hygiene and nutrient
shared between several households. standards.
Other technologies, such as the
anaerobic sludge digester, being one
common part of the activated sludge Anaerobic
Main Treatment
Aerobic
Main Treatment
process (an aerobic wastewater
treatment process) and the upflow
anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) Sludge Water Gas Water Sludge
reactors (joint anaerobic treatment of

wastewater and sludge) are suitable for Post-Treatment Post-Treatment
the treatment of municipal wastewater. aerobic anaerobic
Anaerobic sludge digesters have a long

Sludge Water Sludge W ater Gas
tradition primarily in industrial
countries. Since 1980, an increasing
number of full-scale UASB anaerobic Fig. 1: Principal difference between
sewage treatment plants have been anaerobic and aerobic intensive
wastewater treatment (Source: [11])
installed in larger warm climate
countries as well.
1
gate Information Service / gtz, PO Box 5180, 65726 Eschborn, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)6196 / 79-3094, Fax: +49 (0)6196 / 79-7352, Email: gate-id@gtz.de, Internet: http://www.gtz.de/gate/ gateid.afp
2 Main requirements of anaerobic Fig. 2 illustrates the critical temperature

municipal wastewater treatment ranges, grey shaded areas indicating
sewage temperatures of 12-15°C, the
The applicability of anaerobic treatment for areas between the dotted lines
municipal sewage (mixed sludge and temperatures above 15°C.
wastewater) depends strongly on the Speaking of this type of technology, in
temperature of the sewage. The activity of addition to appropriate sewage
mesophilic anaerobic bacteria is at its temperatures, a further precondition for
optimum at 35°C. At lower temperatures, effective anaerobic treatment are the
bacterial activity decreases, which results organic loading and nutrient content of the
in lower treatment performances. This is wastewater. The initial organic loading rate
the reason why in cold climate countries should be above 250 mg CODin/l (COD =
(which are mostly industrialised), only a chemical oxygen demand), the optimum
small separated portion of the sewage, loading rate being >400 mg CODin / l. The
namely the primary (after sedimentation) optimum nutrient ratio given as COD:N:P
and secondary sludge (after aeration) are (N = nitrogen, P = phosphorus) is 190-
treated anaerobically, however requiring a 350:5:1, anaerobic treatment however
heavy insulation and heating system, while being feasible up to a ratio of 1000:5:1.
the bulk of the volume, the wastewater, is The average sewage composition meets
treated aerobically mostly with aerators in these requirements (domestic sewage is
open or closed ponds. very dilute in comparison with most
According to the present technology industrial wastewaters).
development combined anaerobic sewage Although the production of biogas is
treatment is feasible without heating at mostly considered as being of minor
sewage temperatures above 15°C. For importance in the municipal wastewater
temperature ranges of 12 to 15°C (for treatment context, collection, treatment
example in the Mediterranean region), and preferably a valuable utilisation of the
anaerobic sewage treatment is also gas is necessary in order to avoid the
feasible, but more research and release of CH4 (which has a high
development activities are still necessary greenhouse gas potential) into the
to assess optimum treatment conditions atmosphere and to prevent the emission of
and reactor concepts for these bad odour to the neighbourhood.
temperatures. Consequently, anaerobic Utilisation is possible in co-generation
sewage treatment is primarily of interest units for electricity production (either for
for countries with a tropical or sub-tropical own demand or for feeding to the public
climate, which are mostly developing power grid) or for vapour production or
countries. heating purposes. From an ecological
point of view, the gas should at least be
flared and thus transformed into CO2 and
water, if gas utilisation cannot be
implemented due to disadvantageous
infrastructural and economical frame
conditions (lack of financial means, no
revenues for submission to the grid).
Anaerobic systems can well be applied on

a small scale. This is important for
developing countries with a need for
Fig. 2: World temperature zones decentralised sewage systems, since
grey: 12 – 15°C; enclosed regions: large-scale centralised treatment is very
>15°C (Source: [1]) costly. There may be on-site, community-
on-site or off-site treatment. (See also
2
GATE Technical Information on the cold wastewater cannot be heated to

“Decentralised wastewater treatment allow for anaerobic treatment.
methods for developing countries”)
In order to comply with the discharge
Contribution of Anaerobic Technology
standards regulating COD, BOD to wastewater management
(biological oxygen demand), nutrient and
pathogen loading rate of the plant effluent Production Processing Consumption Disposal
for the respective implementation sites,

Energy
process design usually combines
anaerobic treatment with aerobic post- Energy
Agro-industrial Domestic
treatment steps, e.g. small facultative Fertilizer
wastewater wastewater
ponds for further polishing of the effluent.
A comparison of investment and operation
costs of different treatment systems shows Anaerobic Technology
that, given a high availability of land and
thus low land costs, and not considering - Energy reduction - Renewable energy source
- Energy sale - Saving of disposal sites
smell, environmental and climatic effects, - Appropriate organic fertilizer - Reduction of disposal costs
pond systems at first appear to be the -
more economic solution. If however land is Fig. 3: Anaerobic technology for
scarce and its price exceeds 10 US$/m² or wastewater management
other environmental effects are
considered, then anaerobic treatment
Anaerobic UASB treatment without post
becomes even financially the more
treatment already reach removal
attractive and sustainable solution.
efficiencies of 65%, 80% and 70% for
Compared to the activated sludge system,
COD, BOD and TSS (total suspended
investment (due to the lower amount of
solids) respectively. A comparative study
machinery and equipment needed) and
done by GTZ/TBW assessing most of the
operation costs (due to the lower amount
existing anaerobic treatment plants in
of energy, spare parts and manpower) are
tropical countries (about 60 full scale plant
usually about half as high as for the
of this type were in operation in 1998 [11])
anaerobic UASB process, given sufficient
shows that it can be a very attractive
sewage temperatures.
alternative both cost-wise (with low
amounts of foreign exchange needed) and
3 Practical performance from the environmental point of view.
Anaerobic digestion processes have
Generally speaking, joint anaerobic
already been applied since the end of the
treatment of sludge and wastewater is
19th century for the stabilisation of primary
attractive (given sufficient sewage
and secondary sludge from activated
temperature) due to the following
sludge processes and the treatment of
advantages:
night soil in septic tanks and simple biogas
Low investment and maintenance
digesters.
costs:
Anaerobic treatment of raw domestic/
- No primary clarifier required
municipal sewage is, however, a more
- No sludge digester required
recent development which has barely
(stabilisation of suspended organic
found entrance into common know-how
matter in anaerobic reactor)
and experience, in particular in
- Low land requirements
industrialised countries. Therefore,
- Local production of construction
financing institutions still tend to rather
material, mechanical plant
transfer activated sludge systems with
components, spare parts
anaerobic sludge digestion, which are
suitable for cold climates, since the bulk of
3
Low demand for process energy (no and Colombia. Some relevant large
energy consuming aerators): thus a sewage treatment plants implementing
considerable reduction of CO2 UASB technology are presently also under
emissions due to low consumption of construction with German cooperation in
fossil energy and simultaneous surplus Venezuela, Ecuador and Egypt.
energy production
Reduction of CH4 emissions from
3.1 Problems encountered
uncontrolled disposal/decomposition of
wastewater due to the collection of the During years of practical experiences with
gas formed during the process the implementation of anaerobic
Low sludge production and high sludge technology, the following problems were
quality (the sludge, if not loaded with encountered:
pathogens or heavy metals, can readily Poorly designed and constructed
be applied to agricultural land) reactors or deficiencies in operation led
to CH4 emissions to the atmosphere
The main disadvantages of these and odour nuisance in plant
treatment systems are: neighbourhood
Lower treatment efficiencies (about 5- Floating sludge in UASB reactors
10% less than in activated sludge caused unwanted sludge wash-out,
processes if no post-treatment is thus reducing effluent quality (a main
installed) reason is the poorly designed three-
H2S content in the gas can lead to phase separator or mistakes with the
problems with bad smell and corrosion actual or planned loading rate)
No nutrients (N, P) are removed without Corrosion of construction material and
post treatment equipment
Compared to pond systems, a rather Insufficient knowledge of the process
poor pathogen removal if no post- by the implementing, supervising and
treatment is installed financing organisations or insufficient
Compared to pond systems, a high task management between these three
demand for operational know-how functions so that responsibilities for
Economically not feasible for sewage weak points cannot be clearly identified
temperatures below 15 °C Insufficient training and know-how of
Anaerobic treatment alone will usually be operators and plant management
insufficient to meet the officially required
effluent discharge standards: If legislation 4 Perspectives
demands compliance with the standards,
the treatment systems need to be With increasing experience in combined
combined with a post-treatment anaerobic sewage treatment for tropical
installation. countries, design, construction and
The great majority of the anaerobic operation of these reactors has been
systems in operation for municipal optimised, resulting in an improved system
wastewater treatment belong to the UASB- reliability.
type (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket; see Due to a lack of investment capital at
chapter 5.1), even though other anaerobic present and in the very near future,
high-performance treatment systems may nutrient removal is and will presumably be
also be applied (i.e. fixed bed systems or no focal point of wastewater treatment in
floating bed systems, where the bacteria most of the developing countries yet: the
are attached to a fixed or floating carrier priority is to remove pathogens and the
material). Most of the world’s anaerobic organic pollutants. For irrigation purposes
sewage treatment plants of this type have in agri- or aquaculture, a conservation of
been built in countries with a large internal nutrient resources (N and P) is even
market like Mexico, Brazil, India, China desired. Future considerations do however
4
have to pay respect to the fact that N- and

P-removal will become necessary against
the background of an intensified
agriculture and increasing eutrophication
due to higher loads conveyed to water
bodies. The improvement of hygiene and
sanitation conditions will also gain in
importance and therefore require further
attention. Possibilities of biological nutrient
removal with the present anaerobic/
aerobic systems are not yet sufficiently
assessed. Usually, the carbon content is
too low so that an additional source of
carbon is required. Facultative ponds have
shown promising results in N- and P-
removal if designed for this purpose. A Fig. 4: UASB-reactor for domestic
wastewater treatment, Mirzapur,
better removal of pathogens asks for
India (Source: [4])
further sludge treatment and a post-
treatment of the treated wastewater. A UASB-reactor (see Fig. 5) is constructed
with a specific feeding system consisting
of inlet pipes equally delivering influent to
5 Features for joint anaerobic the bottom of the unit. The upstream
municipal wastewater and velocity is in equilibrium with the sludge
sludge treatment settling speed, so that a suspended sludge
(bacterial) blanked is formed. The
5.1 UASB-technology upstream velocity has to be rather
The UASB-process (upflow anaerobic constant in order to guarantee a proper
sludge blanket) has proven to be the most sludge-water contact and to avoid a wash-
promising communal or municipal out of the active bacteria; an external
anaerobic low-cost treatment technology. mixing device for this technology is not
Dutch research in the late 60's developed required.
the basic technology for a beet sugar Besides the distribution system, the most
enterprise up to the commercial level and characteristic device is the “gas-liquid-
applied it in selected sugar factories to solid-“ or “three-phase separator” at the
solve wastewater treatment problems. top of the reactor. Its function is to
Since the early 1980s, considerable separate the biogas and to retain the
research and development has been done solids (bacterial sludge) and the treated
with respect to anaerobic municipal liquid phase, thus preventing sludge wash-
wastewater treatment systems and, out. Due to their anaerobic operation,
specifically, UASB reactors. It can now be UASB-reactors are characterised by a
considered feasible for municipal considerably lower sludge production (the
wastewater treatment because of its most relevant cost factor in municipal
proven rapid organic removal efficiency, its wastewater treatment) and a low energy
simplicity and low degree of demand, thus leaving a net energy
mechanisation, the low capital and surplus.
maintenance costs and low land and
energy requirements. Fig. 4 shows an
example for a full-scale UASB treatment
plant for 14,000 m³ of municipal
wastewater per day in India.
5
Gas Discharge wastewater post-treatment in ponds or

Gas Collector
constructed wetland systems. (For further
information, see GATE Technical
Effluent Information “Anaerobic treatment of
Gas municipal wastewater in UASB-reactors”.)
Settling
zone
3-Phase-
Separation 5.2 Septic Tank
Water Transition
zone The septic tank is an appropriate low cost
technology and the most common, small
Deflector scale, decentralised anaerobic treatment
Sludge plant, however built without any gas
blanket
Digestion
zone
collection or utilisation system. It is a
simple sedimentation tank with a low
Influent
requirement for maintenance and a
treatment capacity of up to about 50
Fig. 5: Principle design features of UASB households.
(Source: TBW, modified after [3]) The system consists of a closed tank
where sedimentation takes place and
In a pilot project in Bucaramanga, settleable solids are retained (see Fig. 6).
Colombia, a combined sewerage system Retention time of the liquid is in the order
and UASB treatment facility made the city of one day. Sludge is digested
more advanced with respect to sanitation anaerobically in the septic tank, resulting
than any other Colombian city. The system in a reduced volume of sludge.
was implemented at an investment cost of Based on the low removal efficiencies of
17 US$ per capita (including 30 km of 30% COD, 50% BOD and 70% TSS
extended sewerage system), it serves respectively and low nutrient removal, the
160,000 population equivalents (p.e.) at effluent is destined for use in agricultural
operation costs of 1.5 US$/p.e. per irrigation. Present research efforts of some
annum. Present investment data show that German institutions and companies (a.o.
at average temperatures of 20ºC or above BORDA, TBW GmbH, see chapter 7)
and with a plant size of at least 40,000 concentrate on appropriate low-cost
p.e., a UASB-system with wastewater collection and utilisation of the gas
stabilisation ponds (WSP) as post- produced.
treatment can be implemented at an
investment cost of around 4 US$/p.e.,
compared to activated sludge systems at
about 8 US$/p.e..
The pathogen removal efficiency of UASB
treatment processes is not considered
sufficient if environmental standards from
industrial countries are applied, in
particular not for the sludge, and must be
followed by a post-treatment option to
meet the increasingly strict discharge
standards. Nevertheless, already now a
90-99% removal of for example helminth Fig. 6: Principle design features of septic
eggs in the effluent wastewater is possible tank (Source: [9])
with UASB technology alone.
Further treatment options may include
composting of digested sludge for final
pathogen reduction in the sludge and
6
6 Features of anaerobic sludge

treatment in activated sludge
processes
6.1 Sewage sludge digester

Anaerobic treatment of sludge from
aerobic wastewater treatment with long
retention times has a very long history in
some of the central European countries
but has improved considerably: These
anaerobic systems can be built and
operated on various scales in size with a
high degree of technical sophistication and
automation, but sometimes are technically
quite simple as well.
Anaerobic sewage sludge treatment offers

several substantial advantages: Fig. 7: Egg-shaped reactors for anaerobic
Reduction of sludge volumes sludge digestion (Source: TBW)
Stabilisation of the sludge
Production of biogas to be used as
The egg shape has proven to be the best
process energy
solution as it reduces construction material
Valuable nutrients are retained
and is ideal for mixing and heating. So far,
Anaerobic sludge can be preserved
it has yielded the best operational results
and easier dewatered
and greater quantities of methane per
volume of sludge processed to offset fuel
In Central Europe, anaerobic digestion of
costs. At the same time the technology
sewage sludge is presently a routine
produces a consistently well-digested
process implemented in combination with
stabilised sludge. After a retention time of
the aerobic activated sludge process,
around 30 days, the treated sludge is
which is the standard technology for
mostly dewatered and disposed of in
municipal wastewater treatment here.
landfills, incinerators or utilised as an
Sewage sludge is the total solid material
agricultural fertilizer and soil conditioner.
that results from sedimentation and
The composition of biogas generated from
bacterial activity and growth during aerobic
sludge digestion differs from that of a
wastewater treatment. The floating and
digestion of a mix of sludge and
sinking layers formed before, during and
wastewater as discussed earlier. Sludge
after a treatment of the wastewater are
digestion gas normally contains 50 - 60
normally all fed to the sludge digester.
percent CH4, 30 - 40 percent CO2 and
Here, anaerobic fermentation takes place
small amounts of other residual gases.
at process temperatures of 35°C
The thermal energy produced is used to
(mesophilic) to 55°C (thermophilic) and
maintain the digester temperatures;
biogas is generated. To generate
surplus electricity, which is not used by
appropriate reactor temperatures, a
internal plant demands, can be fed into the
heating system is required. Its energy
public grid.
demand can partly, sometimes fully, be
covered by utilising the produced gas,
which can either be burnt directly or in co-
generation units. Fig. 7 shows some
typical egg-shaped sludge digesters in
Germany.
7
7 References and further treatment of municipal and industrial

information sewage and wastes”: Status Reports; Final
Report. GTZ/TBW, Eschborn/Frankfurt,
[1] Alaerts, G.J., Veenstra, S., Bentvelsen, M., Germany, 1998.
van Duijl, L.A. et al.: Feasibility of [12] Tilche A. and Rozzi A.; 1988: Poster
Anaerobic Sewage Treatment in Sanitation Papers of the Fifth International
Strategies in Developing Countries. IHE Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion.
Delft, The Netherlands, 1990. Monduzzi Editore. Bologna
[2] Collazos C.J., Hoyos L.F., Schellinkhout, [13] Verink, J.: Manual for Setting Up and
A.: Manual de Diseño Construcción, Operating Anaerobic Pilot Plants. Scientific
Operación y Mantenimiento de la PTAR Research Council of Jamaica-GTZ-TBW.
“Rio Frío” Bucaramanga. DICOM-DHV. Kingston, Jamaica, 1998.
Bucaramanga, Colombia, 1991.
[3] Haandel, A.C. van; Lettinga, G.: Anaerobic
sewage treatment. A practical guide for 7.1 Institutions and Organisations
regions with a hot climate. John Wiley & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische
Sons Ltd, Chichester, England, 1994. Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, German
[4] Haskoning Consulting Engineers and Appropriate Technology Exchange GATE
Architects: Evaluation report on process Information Service
performance. 14 MLD UASB treatment P.O. Box 5180, 65726 Eschborn, Germany
plant, Mirzapur, India. Internal Report. Phone: ++49 (0)6196 / 79-3093,
Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 1996. Fax: ++49 (0)6196 / 79-7352,
[5] Kellner C.: Biogas Technology - Global Email: gate-id@gtz.de,
Overview on the State of the Art, Internet: http://www.gtz.de/gate/gateid.afp
Environmental, Technical and Economical
Aspects. CAMARTEC-GTZ-TBW. Arusha, Naturgerechte Technologien, Bau- und
Tansania, 1992. Wirtschaftsberatung (TBW) GmbH
[6] Koné S.: Zusätzliche Einsatzmöglich- Baumweg 10, 60316 Frankfurt, Germany
keiten der Biogastechnologie in der Abfall- Phone: ++49 (0)69 / 943507-0
und Abwasserbehandlung, Ergebnisse Fax: ++49 (0)69 / 943507-11
Phase I: notwendige strategische Email: tbw@tbw-frankfurt.com
Maßnahmen und Vorschläge zu deren Internet: http://www.anaerob.com
Durchführung. GTZ-TBW. Frankfurt,
Germany, 1992.
[7] Mang, H.-P., Navía G., Jiménez F., Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU)
Guardia F.: Planta de Tratamiento de Department of Environmental Technology
Aguas Residuales “CAPINOTA”. FIDES- Bomenweg 2, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV
CEINCA-GTZ-BMZ-TBW, Bonn, Germany, Wageningen, The Netherlands
1997 Phone: ++31-317-483339
[8] Peña Romay L.: Empleo de Digestores Fax: ++31-317-482108
Anaerobios de Flujo Ascendente “DAFA”, Email: office@algemeen.mt.wau.nl
en el Tratamiento de Efluentes
Domesticos del Area de Santa Cruz. International Institute for Hydraulic and
UAGRM. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Environmental Engineering (IHE)
1998. P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft,
[9] Sasse, L.: DEWATS. Decentralised The Netherlands
Wastewater Treatment in Developing Phone: ++31-15-788021
Countries. Bremen Overseas Research Fax: ++31-15-122921
and Development Association (BORDA), Internet: http://www.ihe.nl
Bremen, Germany, 1998.
[10] Switzenbaum M.S: Anaerobic Treatment
Technology for Municipal and Industrial 7.2 Useful Links
Wastewater. Water Science and
Technologies. IAWQ. Pergamon Press. http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/sewer/html/sewdi
Oxford, UK, 1990. tp.htm
[11] GTZ/TBW Supraregional Sector Project Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
“Promotion of anaerobic technology for the (MWRA), Boston. Example of the second
8
largest sewage treatment plant of the US: Deer

Island Sewage Treatment Plant.
http://www.iwap.co.uk
International Water Association (IWA), IWA
Publishing (IWAP): a non-profit publisher
providing information services on all aspects of
water and related environmental fields.
http://www.ihe.nl/shortc/anaerob.htm
International Institute for Hydraulic and
environmental Engineering (IHE Delft).
General introduction to anaerobic wastewater
treatment.
http://www.cepis.org.pe
http://www.cepis.org.pe/eswww/fulltext/anaero
bi.html
Centro Panamericano de Ingeniería Sanitaria y
Ciencias del Ambiente (CEPIS) Environmental
technology centre of Panamerican health
organisation (Organización Panamericana de
la Salud). Papers about different aspects of
anaerobic wastewater treatment.
http://wastewater.net
Wastewater Net Message Forum: Links to
wastewater related issues.
9

Anaerobic Methods of Municipal Wastewater Treatment

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Anaerobic Methods of Municipal Wastewater Treatment

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Technical Information W3e

Anaerobic methods of Technical Field:

municipal wastewater Agriculture (A)

treatment This Technical Information is

Municipal wastewater treatment often

reactors (joint anaerobic treatment of

Anaerobic sludge digesters have a long

2 Main requirements of anaerobic Fig. 2 illustrates the critical temperature

Anaerobic systems can well be applied on

GATE Technical Information on the cold wastewater cannot be heated to

for the respective implementation sites,

have to pay respect to the fact that N- and

Gas Discharge wastewater post-treatment in ponds or

6 Features of anaerobic sludge

6.1 Sewage sludge digester

Anaerobic sewage sludge treatment offers

7 References and further treatment of municipal and industrial

largest sewage treatment plant of the US: Deer

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