Saeed Derakhshesh - AmirKabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran M.Sc. of Chemical Engineering-Biotechnology, AmirKabir University of Technology.
Elham Abdollahzadeh Sharghi - AmirKabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering-Biotechnology, Materials and Energy Research Center.
Babak Bonakdarpour - AmirKabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran Professor of Chemical Engineering-Biotechnology, AmirKabir University of Technology.

In the present study, the performance and biogas production of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the biological treatment of synthetic municipal wastewater at a hydraulic retention time of ۱۰ h and organic loading rate of ۱.۴۳ kg COD/m۳.day, and temperature ۳۲œC during ۲۵ days of the operation was investigated. During the operation of the UASB, the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids decreased from ۶۰۶۰۵-۲۴۳۱ and ۳۰۲۵۲-۱۹۱۶ to ۴۰۹۸۹-۱۱۴۰ and ۲۱۱۷۴-۷۴۲ mg/L, respectively. The average chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration decreased from about ۶۰۰ to ۱۲۱-۲ mg/L under steady-state conditions, and the COD removal efficiency reached ۷۹.۶-۰.۵%. With the increase of COD removal efficiency, the daily volume of biogas production increased from about ۴ to ۲۲ L/day, and consequently, the daily volume of methane reached a maximum of ۱۴ L/day. Moreover, along with improving the performance of the UASB reactor, the turbidity removal efficiency reached ۴۵.۶-۰.۵%.

Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), Synthetic Municipal Wastewater, Biogas, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).