Effect of Organic Loading Rate on the Performance of Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor

Anaerobic Digestion Process is evaluated as efficient wastewater treatment process with the removal of high concentrations of organic waste and production of biogas. This study was performed using hybrid anaerobic hybrid reactor (AHR) which consists of anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and biofilm-coated filter media was applied for Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) for 80 days to know optimum removal efficiency and production of biogas by comparing each part which divided changing Organic Loading Rate (OLR). As a result of this study, the removal efficiency was 90.4 % when the organic loading rate of influent was 15 kg COD/ $m^3$ /day. Since organic loading rate was up to 20 kg COD/ $m^3$ /day, the removal rate declined 80.7%. Over loading of influent caused sludge expansion and overproduction of microorganism. Amount of biogas was collected 82.3 L/day and pH was remained 6.9 constantly with balance of alkalinity.