IJIRST –International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology| Volume 1 | Issue 10 | March 2015 ISSN (online): 2349-6010 All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 136 Performance of Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor to Treat Sewage Dipesh C. Rajput Dr. (Mrs.) A. K. Khambete Student of M. Tech Associate Professor Department of Civil Engineering (Environment Engineering) SVNIT, Surat Department of Civil Engineering SVNIT, Surat Abstract The Operational Performance of the Sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) for treating the Sewage. The Removal efficiency of COD, BOD, TSS and Ammonical Nitrogen were investigated by using Biomedia made of PVC. The experiments were carried out at size 18×15×30 cm with working volume 5–L reactor made from Acrylic sheet. The reactor was operated as SBBR. SBBR was filled with Biomedia to 30 % of the working volume. SBBR were operated at 6h cycling period on a day that consisted of wastewater fill (3 min), reaction (5h), settling (50 min) and draw (3 min). During filling sewage aeration was off. The effect of filling ratio on SBBR performance was determined. In normal operation, average COD removal rate was calculated as 90.14 % SBBR. Keywords: Sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR), Biofilm, COD, Nitrogen removal, Wastewater treatment _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. INTRODUCTION Increasing of strict effluent standards require more effective wastewater treatment to meet effluent limitations before discharging in to receiving water bodies [1]. Particularly in areas characterized by low or varying flow patterns, sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is being used successfully to treat both municipal and industrial wastewaters. SBR treatment system consists of a sequencing operation including the steps of fill, react, settle, decant and idle [2]. Since the same reactor is used for biological degradation and sedimentation in SBR operations, capital and operating costs are lower than conventional activated sludge processes, but it requires a higher level of control and automation. The SBR can be combined with biofilm growth on the surface of a support material, originating the sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR). These processes use carriers which are designed to provide a protective surface to the biofilm and optimal conditions for cultivation of microorganisms when they are freely suspended in water. A higher surface area of carriers can provide more sites for microorganisms to absorb and grow. Biofilm carriers are used for upgrading current wastewater treatment systems. Many studies regarding successfu l operation for new wastewater treatment plants and upgrades for existing wastewater treatment plants have been reported The sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) system has attracted a great deal of attention due to its ability to take the advantages of both a biofilm reactor and an SBR. In pure biofilm reactors the biomass grows only on carriers, whereas in SBBRs, both biofilm and suspended activated sludge are in the same tank. In the SBBRs, the biomass grows as a biofilm on small plastic carriers that move freely into the wastewater. Many studies have been performed by modifying the typical SBR to provide high surface area for biofilm growth. SBBRs have already been used in the treatment of domestic wastewater [3–6], dairy wastewater [7,8], textile wastewater [9], tannery wastewater [10], leachate [11] and for nutrient removal [12–16]. Pollutant removal efficiency of the SBBR is much higher than conventional SBR. In most experiments, synthetic wastewater was used because it allows easy process control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the operational suitability and efficiency of the SBBR as treating sewage. The performance of SBBR was investigated by the removal efficiency of COD, BOD, TSS and Ammonical nitrogen. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lab-Scale Reactor and Wastewater: A. The experiments were carried out in lab-scale reactor; the SBBR as illustrated in Fig. 1. One 18×15×30 cm size with working volume 5–L reactor was made from Acrylic sheet. The reactor was operated as SBBR. SBBR was filled with the biomedia 30 % of the working volume. Compressed air was supplied via diffusers at the bottom of the reactors. Mixing was performed inside the reactor by a mechanical stirrer. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were maintained above 3mg/L in the SBBR.