Anaerobic wastewater treatment is a biological process where microorganisms degrade organic contaminants in the absence of oxygen. In a basic anaerobic treatment cycle, wastewater enters a bioreactor receptacle. The bioreactor contains a thick, semi-solid substance known as sludge, which is comprised of anaerobic bacteria and other microorganisms. These anaerobic microorganisms, or “anaerobes,” digest the biodegradable matter present in the wastewater, resulting in an effluent with lower Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and/or Total Suspended Solids (TSS), as well as biogas byproducts.
