Kinetic analysis of treatment of formaldehyde containing wastewater in UAFB reactor

Anaerobic degradation of formaldehyde containing wastewater was studied in an upflow anaerobic fixed film (UAFB) reactor. The reactor was operated at 0.18–3.61 kg COD m−3 d−1 corresponding to formaldehyde concentration of 65–92 mg L−1. COD and formaldehyde removal were found to be 92–24% and 99–41%, respectively. The efficiency of the reactor was investigated at different hydraulic retention time of 10–24 h. Kinetic models were applied to the data obtained from the studies in the anaerobic reactor. Second order and Stover–Kincannon models were best fitted to the data on UAFB reactor. The second order substrate removal rate (K2(s)) was found to be 3.2 h−1. Umax and KB value constants for Stover–Kincannon models were found to be 3.4 g d−1 and 4.6 g d−1, respectively.