DEVELOPMENT OF FLEXIBLE FIBRE BIOFILM REACTOR FOR TREATMENT OF FOOD PROCESSING WASTEWATER

Development of a new flexible fibre biofilm (or attached growth ractor) (FFBR) for the treatment pf wastewater from fruit and vegetable processing plants to upgrade the quality of the effluent and not to alter the survival of the microorganisms by a continuous series of shock loads as in aeration tank of sludge reactors ; evaluation of acclimatisation characteristics of the treatment process. Removal efficiencies of COD over 90% and of BOD of over 95%. As compared with an activated sludge process operated in parallel in similar conditions, the FFBR allows a high organic loading rate, long sludge retention times and low sludge discharge rate in the settling tank.