ABSTRACT
The present work aims to compare two types of biological treatment. The Activated Sludge (AS) process and the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR). The latter is an emerging technology that has been proving quite effective in the removal of high organic strength wastewaters as well as for having diminished operational technicalities. An experimental arrangement was set up: One MBBR and one AS reactor fed continuously with synthetical dairy wastewater. The organic load was regulated by adjusting the milk ratio in the dilution, resulting in a chemical oxygen demand ranging from an average of 582 mg/L to 2646 mg/L. The experimental results obtained showed very high removal capabilities in both treatments, although the MBBR had slightly better results. COD removal efficiencies were, 92.6%, and 95.2%, for the AS, and the MBBR, respectively. Concerning the quantification of excess sludge, the MBBR produced roughly 50% of the amount produced in the AS reactor.
