Removal of nitrogen and phosphate compounds from wastewater by an upward‑flow anaerobic reactor

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the removal of phosphate and nitrogen compounds, and of pollutant, organic load from heterotrophic farming of marine shrimp, using an anaerobic reactor. An upward‑flow reactor was constructed, in which input and output wastes were continuously evaluated for 120 hours, with three replicates. The evaluated physical and chemical parameters were: temperature, pH, conductivity, orthophosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, chemical oxygen demand and total solids. The reactor remained steady, with good conditions for solid retention. The upward‑flow anaerobic reactor removed 96.7% ammoniacal nitrogen and 91% orthophosphate from effluents of marine shrimp farming, which shows that effluents are within the limits set by law.