Performance Evaluation of Sequencing Batch Reactor for Tannery Effluent Treatment

Tanning Industry is considered to be a major source of pollution and tannery wastewater in particular, is a potential environmental concern. Almost 70-80 % transformation of raw hides/skins into finished products occurs in water phase, average consumption of water for tanning process is between 30- 35 m3 per ton of raw material processed. Hence, it is evident that the main load of pollutants occurs within the wastewater. Biological treatment methods are both cost effective and environmentally sound alternative for the treatments of tannery wastewater than physico-chemical methods. They can be used to reduce the organic loading in the wastewater. Sequencing Batch Reactor is a modified form of ASP can be used in the treatment of tannery wastewater. The optimization of parameters like hydraulic retention time of 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, volumetric loading rate of 65%, 75%, 85%, 95% and organic loading rate of 2.54, 3.39, 7.84 kg of COD/m3/day were done in a laboratory scale SBR of 5L working volume. With COD removal rate, the conditions were optimized. COD removal was found to be 82% with a HRT of 8hours and VLR of 95%. Optimum OLR was found to be 3.39 kg of COD/m3/day.