Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Paper and board mill effluent treatment with the combined biological-coagulation-filtration pilot scale reactor
Muhammad Afzal1, Ghulam Shabir, Irshad Hussain
1Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P.O. Box 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan. afzal@nibge.org
Abstract:
Pilot scale reactor based on combined biological-coagulation-filtration treatments was designed and evaluated for the treatment of effluent from a paper and board mill. Biological treatment by fed batch reactor (FBR) followed by coagulation and sand filtration (SF) resulted in a total COD and BOD reduction of 93% and 96.5%, respectively. A significant reduction in both COD (90%) and BOD (92%) was also observed by sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process followed by coagulation and filtration. Untreated effluent was found to be toxic, whereas the treated effluents by either of the above two processes were found to be non-toxic when exposed to the fish for 72h. The resultant effluent from FBR-coagulation-sand filtration system meets National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of Pakistan and can be discharged into the environment without any risks.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Bioreactor Controls-II
Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Scale-Up Processes
Bioreactor Controls-I

