Acclimatation of Microbial Biomass to Effluents From a Swine Slaughterhouse in Batch Reactors

Objective: To evaluate the acclimatization of microbial biomass in sequential reactors to optimize the treatment of wastewater from pig slaughterhouses. Theoretical framework: The meat industry generates highly contaminated wastewater. Biological treatments, such as aerobic and anaerobic systems, are more efficient and sustainable than physicochemical ones. Materials and methods: Industrial effluents were collected in a pig slaughterhouse and then characterized. The microbial biomass was collected from the same slaughterhouse and was subjected to an acclimatization process in a sequential batch reactor. Results and discussion: The results showed that the wastewater from the pig slaughterhouse had high levels of BOD, COD and suspended solids, exceeding the limits established by local regulations. During the acclimatization process, the microbial biomass demonstrated a gradual improvement in its COD removal capacity, reaching efficiencies greater than 70%. The positive correlation observed between volumetric organic load and organic matter removal efficiency indicates that acclimated biomass has a greater capacity to treat effluents with high levels of organic load. Research implications: Biomass acclimatization is essential to improve the efficiency of biological treatment in slaughterhouse effluents, reducing its environmental impact and the need for costly treatments. Value/originality: This study proposes a more sustainable and efficient solution for the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater, highlighting the importance of biomass acclimatization.