• Nitin Mallinath Kodle
• Shivasharanappa Guranna Patil

The paper and pulp industry generates high-strength wastewater containing elevated COD, suspended solids, and recalcitrant organics, necessitating advanced treatment solutions that couple efficiency with resource recovery. This study evaluates the performance of a hybrid treatment system integrating a Hybrid Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (H-UASB) reactor with ceramic membrane filtration. Reactor performance was assessed in terms of pollutant removal, biogas generation, and effluent polishing efficiency. Day-wise monitoring revealed dynamic influent and effluent variations, with COD and TSS reductions demonstrating effective, though fluctuating, treatment performance. Biogas production ranged from 1.8 to 4.4 L/day, confirming the reactor’s potential for energy recovery under variable loading conditions. The ceramic membrane unit achieved COD removal efficiencies between 42.4% and 56.5%, though progressive efficiency declines highlighted membrane fouling as a key operational constraint. Effluent quality remained within acceptable limits during initial operation but showed deterioration with continued fouling, underscoring the need for optimized cleaning intervals and fouling mitigation strategies. Overall, the results establish the integrated H-UASB–ceramic membrane system as a promising approach for sustainable treatment of paper and pulp industry wastewater, combining pollutant reduction with renewable energy generation. However, long-term stability and large-scale deployment depend on fine-tuning operational parameters and managing fouling dynamics

Paper and pulp wastewater; H-UASB reactor; Ceramic membrane filtration; Biogas production; Energy recovery; Membrane fouling

"Performance Evaluation of H-UASB Reactors with Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Paper and Pulp Industry Wastewater Treatment and Energy Recovery", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 9, page no.e320-e328, September-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2509434.pdf

"Performance Evaluation of H-UASB Reactors with Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Paper and Pulp Industry Wastewater Treatment and Energy Recovery", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 9, page no. ppe320-e328, September-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2509434.pdf