厌氧生物处理技术是利用厌氧微生物的代谢特性分解有机污染物。在不需要提供外源能量的条件下，以被还原有机物作为受氢体，同时产生有能源价值的甲烷气体的一种水处理技术。但是，传统的厌氧方法存在水力停留时间长、有机负荷低、处理效果差等缺点，从而限制了该技术在污水处理中的进一步推广应用。近年来，世界上的能源危机问题日益突出，厌氧处理技术作为一种把污水处理与能源回收利用相结合的技术得到了人们的普遍关注。随着微生物学、生物化学等学科的发展，人们对厌氧生物处理技术的研究不断深入，推动了以微生物固定化和提高污泥与污水混合效率为基础的一系列高速厌氧反应器（high-rate anaerobic reactor）的研究和发展。如升流式厌氧污泥床（Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket，简称UASB）反应器、折流式厌氧反应器（Anaerobic Baffled Reactor，简称ABR）、内循环厌氧反应器（Internal Circulation，简称IC）及颗粒污泥膨胀床（Expanded Granular Sludge Bed，简称EGSB）反应器等。高效厌氧反应器的出现推动了厌氧处理技术在高浓度有机废水处理领域的进一步发展，并且这类反应器在低浓度有机废水的处理方面也表现出了巨大的发展潜力。 高效厌氧处理技术进展主要讲述厌氧处理技术的原理和高效厌氧反应器的发展历程。通过这门课的讲述，目的是使博士生们能够掌握厌氧技术的基本原理。同时将国内外高效厌氧反应器的最新研究进展以及应用情况介绍给他们，并指明目前的研究中依然存在的一些问题，为他们博士课题的选择提供导向。

“anaerobic biological treatment technology” involves the treatment of organic matter by anaerobic microorganism. A large amount of organics can be biodegraded without the introduction of external energy, meanwhile the methane gas is generated. However, there exists some disadvantages such as long HRT, low organic loading rate and poor treatment efficiency in conventional anaerobic treatment process, which largely limited its wide application. In recent years, as a technology having the functions of both wastewater treatment and energy reclamation, the anaerobic technology have received more and more attentions, and a series of highly efficient anaerobic reactors were developed, such as up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket, anaerobic baffled reactor, Internal circulation reactor and expanded granular sludge bed, which promote the further development of anaerobic treatment technology in highly concentrated organic wastewater treatment, meantime, the high-rate anaerobic reactors have shown a large potential in low concentrated organic wastewater treatment.“The development of highly efficient anaerobic biological treatment technology” involves the basic principle of anaerobic treatment process and its developing course. During the teaching and study period, the newest research development and engineering application as well as existing problems on anaerobic technology will be introduced to Ph.D. students, which will point out some research directions for the selection of their research subjects.