This research presents the development and evaluation of a system for treatment of swine wastewaters constituted by slat settler, followed by upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, at full scale. The UASB reactor was completely made of masonry and reinforced concrete. The evaluation of the treatment system was carried out through samples collected in the influent and effluent from the settler and UASB reactor. The following parameters were analyzed: temperature, pH, alkalinity, total volatile acids (VFA), suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), according to the methods established by the Standard Methods (APHA, 1998). The mean results of COD and BOD removal were 93 and 92%, respectively. The mean concentrations of COD, BOD and TSS in the final effluent were 790, 1818 and 854 g L-1, respectively. The volumetric organic load (VOL) in the UASB reactor ranged from 1.1 to 17.5 kg COD m-3 d-1. The system slat settler-UASB reactor showed itself to be a promising alternative for the treatment of swine wastewaters.
anaerobic digestion; swine waste; full scale; UASB reactor
