Presented at the ANAEROBIE 2001 Conference, Klatovy, Czech Republic, 2-3 October 2001 New trends in anaerobic treatment: ANAEROBIC EFFLUENT TREATMENT AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES W.J.B.M. Driessen * , J.W. Wouters, L.H.A. Habets, C.J.N. Buisman Paques B.V., P.O. Box 52, 8560 AB Balk, The Netherlands * corresponding author ABSTRACT Anaerobic effluent treatment plants produce valuable energy (biogas) and facilitate recovery of valuable resources. As a result, rather than being regarded as end-of-pipe solution, effluent treatment plants comprising anaerobic treatment, are increasingly been used as an integrated part of the production process of industrial plants. The potential of anaerobic treatment as a more or less integrated part of the industrial production process is illustrated by three cases: a paperboard mill, a food factory and a metal refinery. KEYWORDS Anaerobic, Biogas, End-of-pipe, Energy, Industry, Integrated, Recovery, Resources INTRODUCTION Anaerobic treatment is a recognized, well-established and proven technology for the treatment of various industrial effluents. Currently over 1000 anaerobic treatment plants have been constructed worldwide treating industrial effluent like for example the beverage industry, food industry, pulp and paper industry and (petro) chemical industry. The production of valuable energy rich biogas, the relatively small production of biological excess sludge and the development of more compact reactor types have largely contributed to the successful application of anaerobic treatment in the industry. In general biological effluent treatment plants are regarded as end-of-pipe solutions for purification of the effluent produced as a result of industrial activity. More recently effluent