In the present study, we evaluated an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor, in pilot scale and with a total volume of 280 L, for the treatment of swine wastewater. The organic loading rates applied in such reactor were 4.42; 5.27; 9.33 and 11.79 g CODtotal (L d)-1. The average efficiencies of removal of CODtotal total solids suspension (TSS) and volatile suspension solids (VSS) varied from 56 to 87%. The nutrients total Kjedahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (total P) and Mg were removed with average efficiencies from 26 to 39%. The volumetric methane productions varied from 0.50 to 0.64 L CH4 (L reactor d)-1 and did not present significant differences. The VS/TS relations of the aforementioned reactor's sludge varied from 0.74 to 0.58. The highest mean concentrations of nutrients in the reactor sludge were those of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and calcium, with values from 30.610 to 64.400, 1.590 to 9.870, 6.180 to 8.700 and 1.180 to 6.760 mg kg-1 base dry, respectively.
swine wastewater; anaerobic digestion; methane; nutrients; organic loading rates
