Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Models for Designing Upflow Anaerobic Filters Separated in Two and Three Stages Treating Sanitary Landfill Leachates

ABSTRACT This article deals with a comparative analysis of hybrid models for designing upflow anaerobic filters separated in two and three stages (UAF‐2SS and UAF‐3SS) treating sanitary landfill leachates (SLLs) generated from Guayabal sanitary landfill (GSL) and La Cortada ‐SL (LCSL), Colombia. Experimental factors (EFs) to treat SLLs from GSL in UAF‐2SS were configured through two experimental designs (EDs). EDs1‐GSL involved volumetric organic load (VOL) (1.8 to 4.64 kg COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)/m 3 /d), Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) (18 h), temperatures (T) (20°C, 27°C, 34°C) SLLs from LCSL were treated in UAF‐3SS configuring four EDs: (VOL(1.7 to 17.48 kg COD/m 3 /d), T (32°C to 36°C)), HRT(8.6 h, to 22.1 h). Six hybrid models (HMs) were analyzed through their kinetic parameters and graphical depictions. Among the HMs, HMs‐1, HMs‐2, HMs‐3 and HMs‐6 tended to give satisfactory results, being suitable to select intermediate curves that relate organic remaining fraction and VOLs for the reactor design purposes. It is also recommended to low‐VOL calibrated interval (1.7 to 4.64 kgCOD/m 3 /d. For HM5, substrate utilization rate and microbial cell growth rate for methanogenic and non‐methanogenic bacteria tended to be increased as the VOL was decreased, as well as methane yield was relatively steady under different VOLs, temperature and depth ratios. The novelty consists of to provide graphical predictions to illustrate and complement the design parameters included in hybrid models for achieving an appropriate physical configuration and operation of UAF‐2SS and UAF‐3SS reactors.