Este trabalho consiste na avaliação do desempenho do sistema composto por filtração direta ascendente em pedregulho seguida de filtração rápida descendente. A investigação experimental foi realizada em instalação piloto, variando-se a taxa de filtração nos filtros ascendente (60 a 240 m3/m2.d) e descendente (100 a 240 m3/m2.d) com e sem execução de descargas de fundo intermediárias no ascendente. A água bruta foi proveniente de um manancial superficial com pH entre 6,5 a 7,5, valores de turbidez compreendidos entre 8,5 e 21 uT, cor verdadeira entre 19 e 50 unidades Hanzen e alcalinidade entre 6,7 e 10 mg CaCO3/L. Adicionalmente, verificou-se o comportamento da instalação, para uma condição simulada de ocorrência de pico de turbidez de 380 uT, com curta duração. Em função dos resultados obtidos foi possível realizar considerações com relação à ocorrência de desprendimento/carreamento contínuo de flocos no filtro ascendente e constatar as influências da execução de descargas de fundo intermediárias, com produção de efluentes de melhor qualidade e carreiras de filtração mais prolongadas. O filtro ascendente com taxa de filtração de 120 m3/m2.d, foi capaz de absorver o pico de turbidez de 380 uT, produzindo efluente pré-filtrado com valores de turbidez entre 0,3 e 5,7 uT, e o filtro descendente, com taxa de filtração de 180 m3/m2.d, produziu efluente final com valores consistentemente menores que 1 uT, e na maior parte do tempo menores que 0,1 uT. / This work consists of a performance evaluation of the system composed by direct upflow filtration in gravel followed by rapid downflow filtration in sand. The experimental investigation was accomplished in pilot installation, being varied the filtration rate in the upflow (60 to 240 m3/m2.d.) and downflow (100 to 240 m3/m2.d.) filters with and without execution of intermediate downflushes in the first one. The raw water was provided from a superficial source with pH between 6,5 to 7,5, turbidity values between 8,5 and 21 UT, visible colour between 19 and 50 uH and alkalinity between 6,7 and 10 mg CaC03/L. ln addition, the behavior of the installation was verified, for a simulate condition of turbidity peak occurrence of 380 uT, with short duration. From the obtained results it was possible to accomplish considerations concerning the detachment occurrence/continuous flowing of flakes in the upflow filter and to verify the influences of the execution of intermediate downflushes, with production of better quality effluents and longer filter runs. The upflow filter with filtration rate of 120 m3/m2.d. was able to attenuate the turbidity peak of 380 uT, producing prefiltered effluent with turbidity values between 0,3 and 5,7 uT, and the downflow filter, with filtration rate of 180 m3/m2.d. produced final effluent with consistently values lower than 1 uT and in most of time lower than 0,1 uT.

In this study, domestic wastewater was used to determine the anaerobic treatment performances of a dilute wastewater in one-phase upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system and two-phase upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) and UASB system. The acidification performances of domestic wastewater were compared in UAF and UASB reactors. The degree of acidification is higher in UAF reactor (31%) compared to UASB reactor (18%) at 2 h hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewaters. The effluent total volatile fatty acid (tVFA) concentration was higher in UAF reactor than that the UASB reactor at 2 h HRT. The total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) removal is 40% in winter and 53% in summer in UAF reactor at 2 h HRT. The tCOD removals in two-phase UAF and UASB system and one-phase UASB system were 83% and 63%, respectively, in 4 h HRT. The conversion rate of COD removed to methane were between 0.005 and 0.067 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed and between 0.158 and 0.233 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed in the UAF and the UASB reactor of the two-phase system, respectively. The conversion rate of COD removed to methane varied between 0.029 and 0.199 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed in one-phase UASB reactor. The results of this study showed that the two-phase reactor system consisting from UAF and UASB reactors provide a good removal of soluble organics variations in acidification reactor and better methane productions in UASB reactor at temperatures 20&deg / C and 35&deg / C through the treatment of domestic wastewater at a HRT of 4 hours.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The thesis reports the investigation of various distillery processes and wastewater streams. The aim was to evaluate the processes and thereafter design interventions for improved wastewater treatment at the respective distilleries. An integrated environmental approach was adopted based on the principle that prevention of pollution is the preferred option and end-of-pipe treatment the least favoured option. As such, feed material to the processes was studied to determine whether some of the components that are not required in the distillation process could in fact be removed prior to entering the system. The results indicate that organic constituents such as phenol and tartaric acid could be removed using physico-chemical and biological treatment methods. The treatment of effluent was studied using an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) set-up to determine the reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the wastewater. Thereafter the UASB treated effluent was exposed to aeration for further treatment. Summary of conclusions • Pretreatment of wine feed material with calcium hydroxide is effective in removal of 98% tartaric acid, 30% COD and a total phenol content of 57%. • Bio-augmentation results showed that the soil inoculum was the most effective treatment method with reductions of 61% COD at a temperature of 30°C, tartaric acid removal of 98% at the same temperature and 25% reduction in total phenol at 26°C. • UASB was effective with soil inoculum and removed approximately 90% of COD although operational problems were experienced and hindered the operation of the plant. • Aeration of UASB effluent further reduced the COD by a further 60% with a total COD reduction of 96% after both UASB and aeration treatment. • Effective reduction of total phosphorus by 70% and the total phenol content by 80% was achieved by UASB treatment followed by aeration.

Este trabalho apresenta e discute os resultados obtidos na operação de um reator anaeróbico com manta de lodo (UASB) de 10,5 L, alimentado continuamente com substrato sintético (DQO = 2000 mg/L) e submetido ao aumento progressivo da concentração de sulfato (de 25 a 10000 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L). A vazão de 16 L/dia, corresponde ao tempo de detenção hidráulico (e) de 15,6 h foi mantida constante durante os 10 meses do experimento. O monitoramento da operação do reator incluiu a determinação dos principais parâmetros do processo, visando detectar a inibição da metanogênese pelas bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) que competem, com as metanogênicas, pelos mesmos substratos. Constatou-se estimulação do processo até a concentração de 400 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L, a partir da qual ocorreram sequencias de quedas de eficiência seguidas de recuperação do reator, mantendo sempre a eficiência média de remoção de DQO acima de 80%. Embora a atividade metanogênica tenha sido parcialmente afetada, os balanços de \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\' mostraram que a redução do sulfato não foi o principal responsável pela inibição ocorrida. / This thesis presents and discuss the results obtained during the operation of a 10.5 L upflow sludge blanket reactor, continuously fed with synthetic substrate (COD = 2,000 mg/L), which was subjected to step-increase of sulfate concentrations ranging from 25 to 10,000 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L. The flow-rate of 16 L/d corresponding to a hydraulic detention of 15.6 h, was kept constant throughout the 10 months of experimentation. Operation monitoring included the determination of the main process parameters, aiming to detected the inhibition of lhe methanogenesis by the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) which autocompete the methanogens in the presence of common substrates. Stimulation effects were obseved up to the sulfate concentration of the 400 mg.\'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L. Further on, sequences of falls of efficiency followed by restoration of the reactor performance defined the behavior pattern of the reactor, which maintained an average COD removal efficiency higher than 80%. Although the methanogenic activity has been parcially affected, \'SO IND.4\'POT2-\' balances showed that the sulfate reduction activity was not the main process responsible for such inhibition.

Orientador: Roberto Alves Oliveira / Resumo: A co-digestão de água residuária da bovinocultura leiteira (ARBL) e água residuária do beneficiamento do café (ARC) em reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodos (UASB, R1 e R2), em série, é inédita e importante para o desenvolvimento dos setores envolvidos. Foram utilizadas proporções de 100:0; 85:15, 70:30 e 50:50 de ARBL:ARC no afluente dos reatores UASB e aplicados tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 2 (R1) e 4 (R2) dias. Isto proporcionou cargas orgânicas volumétricas (COV) de 11,9 (valor médio obtido nos testes 1 e 2, sem adição de ARC); 12,9 (teste 3); 14,0 (teste 4) e 21,3 (teste 5) g DQOtotal (L d)-1 no R1. As maiores produções volumétricas de metano, de até 0,89 L CH4 (L reator d)-1 foram obtidas com COV de 14,0 g DQO (L d)-1. As concentrações médias de fenóis totais no afluente variaram entre 6 e 132 mg L-1 e as eficiências médias de remoção nos reatores UASB, em dois estágios, foram de 35 a 52% com concentração de 50 mg L-1 para efluente do R2 após adição de ARC que contém elevadas concentrações de fenóis totais e apresentam toxicidade ao tratamento anaeróbio podendo afetar a estabilidade do processo. O sistema foi eficiente para remoção de ovos de helmintos. Os Domínios Bacteria e Archaea, as Ordens Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales e Methanosarcinales e as Famílias Methanosaetaceae e Methanosarcinaceae se apresentaram de forma sincrônica e equilibrada na co-digestão anaeróbia dos resíduos estudados. / Abstract: The co-digestion of dairy manure wastewater (DMW) and coffee processing wastewater (CPW) in up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB, R1 and R2) in series is unprecedented and important for the development of the sectors involved. Proportions of 100: 0; 85:15, 70:30 and 50:50 DMW:CPW were used in the UASB reactors influent and applied hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2 (R1) and 4 (R2) days. This provided organic loading rate (OLR) of 11.9 (mean value obtained in tests 1 and 2, without addition of CPW); 12.9 (test 3); 14.0 (test 4) and 21.3 (test 5) g CODtotal (L d) -1 on R1. The highest volumetric methane yields of up to 0.89 L CH4 (L reactor d) -1 were obtained with OLR of 14.0 g COD (L d) -1. The mean concentrations of total phenols in the affluent ranged from 6-132 mg L-1 and the mean removal efficiencies in two-stage UASB reactors were 35-52% with 50 mg L-1 concentration for R2 effluent after addition of ARC containing high concentrations of total phenols and toxicity to anaerobic treatment may affect process stability. The system was efficient for removal of helminth eggs. The Bacteria and Archaea Domains, the Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales Orders, and the Methanosaetaceae and Methanosarcinaceae families were presented in a synchronic and balanced manner in the anaerobic co-digestion of the residues studied. / Mestre

Whey permeate was anaerobically digested in laboratory scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors. Nine hydraulic retention times between 5 and 0.2 days were examined with a fixed influent concentration of 10.6 ± 0.2 g COD/L. Chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency ranged from 99.0 to 18.9% and maximum production rate of methane gas was 2.67 L/L/day at a hydraulic loading rate of 12.97 kg COD/m3/day. About 70% of the chemical oxygen demand removed was converted to methane. Both the nonlinear least square method with 95% confidence interval and linear regression were used to evaluate kinetic coefficients. The maximum substrate utilization rate, k, and half saturation coefficient, KL, were determined to be 1.269 ± 0.163 Kg COD/kg VSS/day and 1.000 ± 0.179 kg COD/kg VSS/day. The yield coefficient, Y, and biomass decay rate coefficient, Kd, were also determined to be 0.160 ± 0.012 kg VSS/kg COD and 0.027 ± 0.004 day-1, respectively.

Wastewater recycling and reuse is an important issue in the coming years due to the increasing water demand and the decreasing water supply. MBR (membrane bioreactor) technology has become an important pretreatment technology for reclaiming treated effluent from, for example, domestic, dyestuff, and pharmaceutical wastewater plants. However, variations in wastewater flow rate and polluted materials can be a great influence to the performance of MBR. The applications of MBR to the treatment of various industrial wastewaters are worthy of further investigation. The present study investigated performances of MBR for treating wastewaters from a tannery plant and an industrial park. In addition, a pilot-scale UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor was used for the pretreatment of the tannery plant wastewater for COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal. Results from tannery wastewater treatment indicate that using effluent from the activated sludge ponds of plant A as an influent to the pilot MBR, COD and SS (suspended solids) of the MBR filtrates could always be kept at <100 and <30 mg/L, respectively. Both COD and SS of the filtrates meet effluent regulations of <160 and <30 mg/L, respectively. The operation conditions were HRT (hydraulic retention time) = 12.2-20.4 hr, flux = 4.92-8.17 L/m2.hr, and MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) = 5,060-37,800 mg/L. Because the effluent had high TDS (total dissolved solids) contents of 8,700-9,700 mg/L resulted from chloride and sulfate ions, the permissible operational fluxes (4.92-8.17 L/m2.hr) were far below the normal ones (20-30 L/m2.hr). Experiments from the UASB test indicate that on an average 70% of the influent COD (2,200 mg/L) could be removed. Wastewater plant for the industrial park had influent and effluent COD of 93-144 and 11-65 mg/L, respectively. By the MBR with EBRT of 2.16-12.2 hr, flux of 5.0-28 L/m2.hr, and MLSS of 1,550 mg/L, the filtrates had COD of 11-81 mg/L. In addition, COD of the MBR filtrates could be decreased from 77 to 20-40 mg/L after supplementation of PAC (powdered activated carbon) at a concentration of 500 mg/L, and a clearer filtrate was obtained. After 30 days of operation, COD of the filtrates could be maintained at 30-48 mg/L. Regular addition of PAC to the MBR reactor is necessary for keeping the effluent quality to meet the reuse requirements.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-05T18:29:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-06-08. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-02-05T18:33:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000857634.pdf: 2687649 bytes, checksum: 921ce0c3510bd4902e13ea9e219c970f (MD5) / A pesquisa utilizou um Reator Aeróbio de Leito Fluidizado com Circulação (RALFC) como dispositivo de pós-tratamento do efluente de um Reator UASB Compartimentado (RUC) o qual tratou esgoto sanitário. O RUC foi constituído de 4 tubos de PVC, de diferentes diâmetros, dispostos de forma concêntrica e o RALFC por dois tubos de PVC, de diâmetros diferentes e concêntricos, e uma unidade de sedimentação na parte superior. A pesquisa foi dividida em partida e quatro fases distintas, denominadas fase 1A, 1B, 2A e 2B, nas quais foram variados os parâmetros de operação, como vazão de ar, vazão de efluentes, tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) e carga orgânica volumétrica (COV). De modo que durante a pesquisa foi constatado que a melhor fase de tratamento foi quando o RALFC operou com TDH de 4,7 horas e vazão de ar de 300 L/h. O sistema, nessa fase, apresentou um valor médio de DQO efluente de 55 mg/L, a partir de um valor bruto de 607 mg/L em média, gerando uma remoção total de 90%. Os parâmetros de controle como alcalinidade, pH, temperatura e ácidos orgânicos voláteis sempre estivaram dentro das recomendações da literatura, demonstrando uma baixa oscilação. Mesmo assim o sistema não apresentou bom desempenho na remoção de nutrientes, tendo em sua melhor fase de tratamento um efluente com 31 mg/L em média de nitrogênio total, a partir de um valor de entrada de 50 mg/L sendo que a maior parte desse nitrogênio foi removido durante a passagem pelo RUC. Por outro lado para o fósforo, os valores foram de 25 mg/L na entrada e no efluente 14 mg/L, do mesmo modo como ocorreu ao nitrogênio, a maior parte da remoção de fósforo foi realizada pelo RUC / The study used an aerobic fluidized bed reactor with circulation (RALFC) as the effluent post-treatment device of a UASB reactor Compartmented (RUC) which treated wastewater. The RUC was consisted of 4 PVC tubes of different diameters arranged concentrically and RALFC two PVC tubes of different diameters and concentric, and a sedimentation unit in the upper part. The research was divided into four distinct phases and starting, called Phase 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, in which were various operating parameters such as air flow, flow of wastewater, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and volumetric organic load (VOC). So that during the research it was found that the best treatment phase was when the RALFC operated with HRT of 4.7 hours and air flow of 300 L / h. The system, at this stage, had an average effluent COD value of 55 mg/L, from the affluent valor of 607 mg/L on average, there by generating a complete removal of 90%. The control parameters as alkalinity, pH, temperature and volatile organic acids have always been within the recommended by the literature, demonstrating a low oscillation. Even so, the system hasn't showed good performance in the removal of nutrients, in their best treatment stage an effluent with 31 mg/L on average total nitrogen from an input value of 50 mg/L. The most part of nitrogen removal was during passage through the RUC. As for the phosphorus values were 25 mg/L in the effluent input and 14 mg/L, in the same as was the nitrogen, the majority of phosphorus removal was performed by RUC

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-07T19:20:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-03-07T19:24:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000859543.pdf: 3148559 bytes, checksum: b931ea00b941fe221750b66d00797d66 (MD5) / A aplicação de reatores anaeróbios, como é o caso dos reatores UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), passou a ocupar uma posição de destaque, principalmente no Brasil, face às condições ambientais de temperatura favoráveis, baixo custo, simplicidade operacional e baixa produção de sólidos. Dentre os sistemas anaeróbios, tem-se também o Reator Anaeróbio Compartimentado (RAC), um tipo de reator com configuração simples, com divisões internas que buscam separar os tipos de microrganismos da digestão anaeróbia. No presente trabalho estudou-se o comportamento do sistema Reator UASB Compartimentado (RUC), operando com carregamento orgânico volumétrico (COV) em diferentes variações. A melhor condição operacional, relativa à remoção de carga orgânica, foi conseguida quando o RUC foi operado com uma COV de 1,30kgDQO/m3.d (Fase IV), quando apresentou uma média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção de DQO de 82,7±7,7% e de DBO de 78,3±3,5%. Quando operando com a maior COV de todas as fases (fase III - 2,17kgDQO/m3.d) apresentou a segunda melhor eficiência de remoção de carga orgânica, com uma média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção da DQO de 74,2±8,8% e da DBO de 76,9±8,2%. Com a COV de 1,70kgDQO/m3.d a média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção da DQO e DBO foram de 74,2±8,8% e 69,1±6,8%, respectivamente. E com a COV de 0,78kgDQO/m3.d, a média e o desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção de DQO e de DBO foram de 68,9±11% e 69,7±15,7%, respectivamente. Uma desvantagem verificada no RUC foi o arraste de lodo ocasionado pelo aumento da COV, que afetou as características finais do efluente, mas não alteraram significativamente a sua eficiência de remoção da carga orgânica / The application of anaerobic reactors, such as the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), has come to occupy a prominent position, especially in Brazil, given the favorable environmental conditions such as temperature, low cost, operational simplicity and low production of sludge. Among the anaerobic systems, there is also the Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR), a type of reactor with simple configuration, with internal divisions that seek to separate the types of microorganisms in anaerobic digestion. Thus, the present work studied the behavior of Compartmented UASB Reactor (CUR), operating with variable volumetric organic loading (VOL). The best operating condition on the removal of organic load was achieved when the CUR was operated with a VOL 1.30kgCOD/m3.day (Phase IV), the CUR had 82.7±7.7% of COD removal efficiency (average and standard deviation) and BOD were 78.3±3.5%. When operating at higher VOL (Phase III - 2.17kgCOD/m3.day) showed the second best organic load removal efficiency with average and standard deviation of the COD removal efficiency of 74.2±8.8% and 76.9±8.2 BOD%. With the VOL 1.70kgCOD/m3d average and standard deviation da the removal efficiency of COD and BOD were 74.2±8.8% and 69.1±6.8%, respectively. And the VOL 0.78kgDQO/m3.day, the average and standard deviation of the COD removal efficiency of BOD and were 68.9±11% and 69.7±15.7%, respectively. A disadvantage found in the CUR was drag sludge resulting from increased VOL, which affected the final characteristics of the effluent, but not significantly modified its removal efficiency of organic load

Buscando compreender o comportamento hidrodinâmico de um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente (UASB), o presente trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver um modelo numérico utilizando ferramentas de Fluidodinâmica Computacional (CFD) para a simulação do comportamento do escoamento trifásico (líquido, gás e sólido) em um reator UASB utilizado na produção de biogás a partir da vinhaça, e validar este modelo utilizando técnicas de Velocimetria de Partículas por Imagem (PIV). Para tanto, inicialmente foi projetado o reator UASB e em seguida foram desenvolvidas a geometria e a malha. As simulações foram executadas no software Fluent, utilizando uma malha com 528.000 volumes de controle. Foram inicialmente realizadas simulações do escoamento monofásico do líquido e em seguida simulações bifásicas gás/líquido e sólido/líquido foram realizadas adotando-se uma abordagem Euleriana-Euleriana, isotérmica, transiente e tridimensional. Por fim, os modelos bifásicos já validados foram associados em um modelo trifásicos. Técnicas de PIV foram utilizadas na validação dos modelos bifásicos e do trifásico. Na etapa de validação dos modelos numéricos, foi verificada uma diferença máxima entre resultados experimentais e computacionais menor de 4% para todos os casos. Foi verificado que a força de arraste é a que exerce a maior influência no perfil do escoamento gás/líquido. Com relação ao escoamento sólido/líquido, o modelo de Gidaspow foi escolhido para o cálculo do coeficiente de arraste, após comparação com resultados experimentais. Nas simulações trifásicas, verificou-se o gás foi o principal responsável pela qualidade da mistura dentro do reator, reduzindo de 44% o percentual de zonas mortas no reator no caso sólido/líquido para 0,02% no caso trifásico e aumentando em cerca de oito vezes a magnitude da velocidade das fases sólida e líquida. O sistema de distribuição de gás exerceu forte influência no perfil do escoamento, tendo induzido recirculação interna no reator. A compreensão do escoamento permitirá otimizações no processo e no reator de forma a buscar o aumento da eficiência de tratamento bem como da geração de biogás. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-06-26T17:27:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Camila DBastiani.pdf: 3648057 bytes, checksum: 6fcb0f38708ea3a24444be3ab47dd30b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-26T17:27:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Camila DBastiani.pdf: 3648057 bytes, checksum: 6fcb0f38708ea3a24444be3ab47dd30b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-26 / PETROBRAS, Brasil. / Aiming to understand the hydrodynamics of a Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor, this work aimed to apply multiphase modeling through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess the behavior of the three phase flow (liquid, gas and solid) in a UASB reactor, which is used in the biogas production using vinasse as substrate and the to validate the results using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. Therefore, the UASB reactor was designed and then the geometry and mesh were developed. The simulations were performed using the software Fluent and a mesh with 528.000 control volumes. Initially, monophasic simulations of the liquid phase were carried out. Next, two phase simulations were performed considering the pairs of phases gas/liquid and solid/liquid. An Eulerian-Eulerian approach was adopted, together with isothermal, transient and tridimensional conditions. After validated, the two-phase models (solid/liquid and gas/liquid) were combined into a three-phase model. PIV was used for the experimental validation of the two and three-phase models. The numerical model validation showed maximum differences lower than 4% between experimental and computational results for the three cases (gas/liquid, solid/liquid and liquid/gas/solid). Numerical results showed that the drag force plays the major role on the gas/liquid flow profile. Regarding the solid/liquid flow, Gidaspow model was chosen to estimate the drag force coefficient after comparisons between numerical and experimental results. Three-phase simulations showed that the gas was the main responsible for the mixing quality within the reactor. Dead zones were reduced from 44% in the solid/liquid simulations to 0,02% in the three-phase simulations and the liquid and solid velocity magnitude increased in about eight times. The configuration of the gas distribution system played a major role on the overall flow profile and drove liquid recirculation along the axial position. Understanding the multiphase flow within this reactor will allow optimizations on the process as well as on the reactor, in order to seek an increase on the efficiency both in the treatment and biogas in the production.