Granules as Precursors in the Working of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor: A Review on the Impacts of Granulation

Abstract

High-rate anaerobic digesters are of great concern these days—due to their high loading capacity, reduced carbon footprints and lower sludge production. Among them, the most preferred is the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. However, there are still unresolved issues that inhibit the widespread of this technology. To start with the granular sludge bed fostering the microflora forms the prime seat in the working of UASB reactors. These microflora have a predominant role in the treatment of wastewater, hence the factors governing their growth, survival, and distribution are to be studied. Thus it seemed as due important to analyse the granular sludge for its particle size, particle density, and microfilm characteristics, to enhance the reactor’s efficiency. This has made scientists across the world put an eye on factors that shape the granules and how the granules contribute to wastewater treatment. The state-of-the-art is presented in this study.