Procedure for Rapid Acclimation of Seed Sludge Treating Low Strength Domestic Wastewater at Low Temperatures (≈20°C)

The acclimation of brewery seed sludge to treat domestic wastewater under ambient temperatures (≈20°C) was accomplished by two methods. Reactor A was fed a 50/50 mixture of brewery wastewater and domestic wastewater for a period of 26 days, and then switched to a feed of only domestic wastewater. Reactor B was fed domestic wastewater for the duration of the experiment. Reactor A outperformed both Reactor B and the control reactor treating synthetic brewery wastewater. Despite a shift from thermophilic to ambient temperatures, the Reactor A system showed 80% CODt removal within 26 days. After Reactor A was switched on Day 26 to 100% domestic wastewater, the system was able to reach 65% CODt removal within an additional 20 days, indicating a successful startup. The COD removal efficiency was stable during the long-term testing period. Reactor B reached 60% CODt removal in 46 days indicating a successful startup.