The effect of the organic loading rate (OLR) on the performance and microbial composition of a two-stage UASB system treating coffee processing wastewater was assessed. The system was operated with… Click to show full abstract
The effect of the organic loading rate (OLR) on the performance and microbial composition of a two-stage UASB system treating coffee processing wastewater was assessed. The system was operated with OLR up to 18.2 g COD (L d)-1 and effluent recirculation. Methane production and effluent characteristics were monitored. The microbial composition was examined through next-generation sequencing and qPCR from the anaerobic sludge of the first reactor (R1) operated at low and high OLR. The system showed operational stability, obtaining a maximum methane production of 2.2 L CH4 (L d)-1, with a removal efficiency of COD and phenolic compounds of 84 and 73%, respectively. The performance of R1 at high OLR in steady conditions was associated with an appropriate proportion of nutrients (particularly Fe) and a marked increase of the syntrophic bacteria Syntrophus and Candidatus Cloacimonas, and acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens, mainly Methanosaeta, Methanoculleus, Methanobacterium and Methanomassiliicoccus.
               
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