Methanogenic potential of an aerated biofilter reactor working at low recirculation flow

The applicability of Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor technology (SBBGR) working at low recirculation flow was evaluated in order to reduce process energy demand. The system maintained some of the main advantages of this technology and simultaneous presence of aerobic and strictly anaerobic metabolisms (nitrification, denitrification, fermentation, methanogenesis, sulphate reduction) in the system was observed. To better characterize the system traditional physical-chemical analysis was coupled with Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).