The main objective of this work was to characterize the wastewater from the dying hood of a woven furniture industry, and to assess the efficiency of biological processes (anaerobic and aerobic) for its treatment. The physical-chemical characterization of the industrial wastewater showed a high organic matter content (total COD from 634 to 2,790 mg.L-1; total BOD5 from 360 to 972 mg.L-1), low content of macronutrients (NTK of 1.9 mg.L-1 and P of 0.5 mg.L-1) and toxic metals. The anaerobic degradation tests in a bench-scale UASB reactor (25ºC and hydraulic retention time - HRT = 10 hours) showed that a maximum removal efficiency of 90% was obtained when the reactor was fed with 30% raw sewage and 70% industrial wastewater. The feeding of UASB reactor with only industrial wastewater resulted in volatile fatty acids accumulation and microbial inhibition; however, the use of aerobic post-treatment (HRT = 96 hours) granted a high (~88%) organic matter removal efficiency.
wood furniture wastewater; biological treatment; biodegradability; UASB reactor; anaerobic treatment; aerobic post-treatment; combined systems
