Anaerobic Tower Reactor

Mit Water designs and fabricates anaerobic tower reactors for high-strength organic wastewater treatment. These upflow anaerobic systems are particularly effective for industrial wastewaters with chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations ranging from 2,000 to over 20,000 mg/L, achieving high organic removal rates while producing biogas as a renewable energy source.

Working Principle

Wastewater enters at the bottom of the reactor and flows upward through a dense sludge blanket consisting of granular anaerobic biomass. In the absence of dissolved oxygen, anaerobic microorganisms convert organic matter through hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis. The final stage produces methane-rich biogas (typically 60-70% CH4) which is collected at the top of the reactor. Treated effluent overflows from the top through a gas-liquid-solid separator.

System Features

Our anaerobic tower reactors are constructed from epoxy-coated carbon steel or SS304 with internal three-phase separators. The system includes feed distribution nozzles, biogas collection and handling equipment, temperature control, and a PLC control panel. Organic loading rates of 5 to 15 kg COD/m3/day are achievable depending on wastewater characteristics.

Anaerobic tower reactors are preferred for high-strength organic wastewaters:

  • Food and beverage processing (brewery, distillery, dairy, sugar)
  • Palm oil mill effluent (POME)
  • Pulp and paper mill wastewater
  • Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing wastewater
  • Starch and yeast production wastewater
  • Slaughterhouse and meat processing wastewater
  • Landfill leachate treatment

Technical Parameters

COD Removal70% to 90%
Organic Loading Rate5 to 15 kg COD/m3/day
Operating Temperature35 to 38 °C (mesophilic)
Hydraulic Retention Time6 to 48 hours
Biogas Production0.3 to 0.5 m3 CH4 per kg COD removed
Reactor MaterialEpoxy-coated carbon steel or SS304
Upflow Velocity0.5 to 2.0 m/h
Control SystemPLC with pH, temperature, flow and biogas monitoring