'Hybrid' Processes

Hybrid types of reactors are a combination of an UASB reactor with an AF or an AC process or a combination of the three types.

The first hybrid type of reactor is similar to an UASB, except for the three-phase separator. The separator is replaced by a layer of floating carrier material. This material serves a double function:

• to separate and retain a large fraction of sludge in the reactor before the effluent leaves the reactor
• to carry active sludge in the porous space of the carrier material itself.

This type of reactor is called the Upflow Anaerobic Contact Filter reactor (UACF).

BIOTIM^® UACF, AUSSAPOL, Italy

The second type of hybrid reactor has recently been developed for wastewater showing no granule formation and requiring a longer hydraulic retention time. It is called the Upflow Anaerobic Contact reactor (UAC).

This reactor allows some biomass accumulation in the lower part of the reactor. The reactor is not totally mixed which is the case for the Anaerobic Contact (AC) reactor but is equipped with a sophisticated influent distribution system similar to the one for the UASB reactor. The three-phase separator is replaced by an external crossflow parallel plate separator of our newest design (BIOTIM^® Sepafloc).

BIOTIM^® UAC, Royal Citrus, Brazil