diff --git a/lib/src/model/blank_node.rs b/lib/src/model/blank_node.rs
index 4126d5ac..1afceb0c 100644
--- a/lib/src/model/blank_node.rs
+++ b/lib/src/model/blank_node.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
+use rand::random;
 use rio_api::model as rio;
 use std::fmt;
+use std::io::Write;
 use std::str;
-use uuid::Uuid;
 
 /// A RDF [blank node](https://www.w3.org/TR/rdf11-concepts/#dfn-blank-node).
 ///
-/// This implementation enforces that the blank node id is an UUID to easily ensure
+/// This implementation enforces that the blank node id is a uniquely generated ID to easily ensure
 /// that it is not possible for two blank nodes to share an id.
 ///
 /// The common way to create a new blank node is to use the `Default::default` trait method.
@@ -15,19 +16,26 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 ///
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Debug, Clone, Hash)]
 pub struct BlankNode {
-    uuid: Uuid,
+    id: u128,
     str: [u8; 32],
 }
 
 impl BlankNode {
+    /// Creates a blank node from a unique id
+    pub(crate) fn new_from_unique_id(id: u128) -> Self {
+        let mut str = [0; 32];
+        write!(&mut str[..], "{:x}", id).unwrap();
+        Self { id, str }
+    }
+
     /// Returns the underlying ID of this blank node
     pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
         str::from_utf8(&self.str).unwrap()
     }
 
-    /// Returns the underlying UUID of this blank node
-    pub fn uuid(&self) -> Uuid {
-        self.uuid
+    /// Returns the underlying ID of this blank node
+    pub(crate) fn id(&self) -> u128 {
+        self.id
     }
 }
 
@@ -40,15 +48,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for BlankNode {
 impl Default for BlankNode {
     /// Builds a new RDF [blank node](https://www.w3.org/TR/rdf11-concepts/#dfn-blank-node) with a unique id
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::from(Uuid::new_v4())
-    }
-}
-
-impl From<Uuid> for BlankNode {
-    fn from(id: Uuid) -> Self {
-        let mut str = [0; 32];
-        id.to_simple().encode_lower(&mut str);
-        Self { uuid: id, str }
+        Self::new_from_unique_id(random::<u128>())
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/src/sparql/algebra.rs b/lib/src/sparql/algebra.rs
index 0af8c0a2..f194f046 100644
--- a/lib/src/sparql/algebra.rs
+++ b/lib/src/sparql/algebra.rs
@@ -770,9 +770,7 @@ impl<'a> fmt::Display for SparqlGraphPattern<'a> {
                 SparqlGraphPattern(&*a),
                 SparqlGraphPattern(&*b),
             ),
-            GraphPattern::Graph(g, p) => {
-                write!(f, "GRAPH {} {{ {} }}", g, SparqlGraphPattern(&*p),)
-            }
+            GraphPattern::Graph(g, p) => write!(f, "GRAPH {} {{ {} }}", g, SparqlGraphPattern(&*p),),
             GraphPattern::Extend(p, v, e) => write!(
                 f,
                 "{} BIND({} AS {})",
diff --git a/lib/src/sparql/eval.rs b/lib/src/sparql/eval.rs
index 01011f7c..cb9b998e 100644
--- a/lib/src/sparql/eval.rs
+++ b/lib/src/sparql/eval.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ type EncodedTuplesIterator<'a> = Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Result<EncodedTuple>> +
 
 pub struct SimpleEvaluator<S: StoreConnection> {
     dataset: DatasetView<S>,
-    bnodes_map: Mutex<BTreeMap<u64, Uuid>>,
+    bnodes_map: Mutex<BTreeMap<u64, u128>>,
     base_iri: Option<Iri<String>>,
     now: DateTime<FixedOffset>,
 }
@@ -872,19 +872,21 @@ impl<'a, S: StoreConnection + 'a> SimpleEvaluator<S> {
                     if let EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id } =
                         self.eval_expression(id, tuple)?
                     {
-                        Some(EncodedTerm::BlankNode(
-                            *self
+                        Some(EncodedTerm::BlankNode {
+                            id: *self
                                 .bnodes_map
                                 .lock()
                                 .ok()?
                                 .entry(value_id)
-                                .or_insert_with(Uuid::new_v4),
-                        ))
+                                .or_insert_with(random::<u128>),
+                        })
                     } else {
                         None
                     }
                 }
-                None => Some(EncodedTerm::BlankNode(Uuid::new_v4())),
+                None => Some(EncodedTerm::BlankNode {
+                    id: random::<u128>(),
+                }),
             },
             PlanExpression::Rand => Some(random::<f64>().into()),
             PlanExpression::Abs(e) => match self.eval_expression(e, tuple)? {
@@ -1411,7 +1413,7 @@ impl<'a, S: StoreConnection + 'a> SimpleEvaluator<S> {
         match term {
             EncodedTerm::DefaultGraph => None,
             EncodedTerm::NamedNode { iri_id } => Some(iri_id),
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_) => None,
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. } => None,
             EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id }
             | EncodedTerm::LangStringLiteral { value_id, .. }
             | EncodedTerm::TypedLiteral { value_id, .. } => Some(value_id),
@@ -1584,7 +1586,7 @@ impl<'a, S: StoreConnection + 'a> SimpleEvaluator<S> {
         match a {
             EncodedTerm::DefaultGraph
             | EncodedTerm::NamedNode { .. }
-            | EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_)
+            | EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. }
             | EncodedTerm::LangStringLiteral { .. } => Some(a == b),
             EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id: a } => match b {
                 EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id: b } => Some(a == b),
@@ -1706,8 +1708,8 @@ impl<'a, S: StoreConnection + 'a> SimpleEvaluator<S> {
     fn cmp_terms(&self, a: Option<EncodedTerm>, b: Option<EncodedTerm>) -> Ordering {
         match (a, b) {
             (Some(a), Some(b)) => match a {
-                EncodedTerm::BlankNode(a) => {
-                    if let EncodedTerm::BlankNode(b) = b {
+                EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id: a } => {
+                    if let EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id: b } = b {
                         a.cmp(&b)
                     } else {
                         Ordering::Less
@@ -1717,11 +1719,13 @@ impl<'a, S: StoreConnection + 'a> SimpleEvaluator<S> {
                     EncodedTerm::NamedNode { iri_id: b } => {
                         self.compare_str_ids(a, b).unwrap_or(Ordering::Equal)
                     }
-                    EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_) => Ordering::Greater,
+                    EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. } => Ordering::Greater,
                     _ => Ordering::Less,
                 },
                 a => match b {
-                    EncodedTerm::NamedNode { .. } | EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_) => Ordering::Greater,
+                    EncodedTerm::NamedNode { .. } | EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. } => {
+                        Ordering::Greater
+                    }
                     b => self.partial_cmp_literals(a, b).unwrap_or(Ordering::Equal),
                 },
             },
diff --git a/lib/src/sparql/model.rs b/lib/src/sparql/model.rs
index 3e27a0e7..0e1a60dd 100644
--- a/lib/src/sparql/model.rs
+++ b/lib/src/sparql/model.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ use crate::sparql::json_results::write_json_results;
 use crate::sparql::xml_results::{read_xml_results, write_xml_results};
 use crate::{FileSyntax, GraphSyntax, Result};
 use failure::format_err;
+use rand::random;
 use rio_api::formatter::TriplesFormatter;
 use rio_turtle::{NTriplesFormatter, TurtleFormatter};
 use rio_xml::RdfXmlFormatter;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::io::{BufRead, Write};
-use uuid::Uuid;
 
 /// Results of a [SPARQL query](https://www.w3.org/TR/sparql11-query/)
 pub enum QueryResult<'a> {
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ impl<'a> BindingsIterator<'a> {
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Debug, Clone, Hash)]
 pub enum Variable {
     Variable { name: String },
-    BlankNode { id: Uuid },
-    Internal { id: Uuid },
+    BlankNode { id: u128 },
+    Internal { id: u128 },
 }
 
 impl Variable {
@@ -173,22 +173,24 @@ impl fmt::Display for Variable {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         match self {
             Variable::Variable { name } => write!(f, "?{}", name),
-            Variable::BlankNode { id } => write!(f, "_:{}", id.to_simple()),
-            Variable::Internal { id } => write!(f, "?{}", id.to_simple()),
+            Variable::BlankNode { id } => write!(f, "_:{:x}", id),
+            Variable::Internal { id } => write!(f, "?{:x}", id),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl Default for Variable {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Variable::Internal { id: Uuid::new_v4() }
+        Variable::Internal {
+            id: random::<u128>(),
+        }
     }
 }
 
 impl From<BlankNode> for Variable {
     fn from(blank_node: BlankNode) -> Self {
         Variable::BlankNode {
-            id: blank_node.uuid(),
+            id: blank_node.id(),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/src/store/numeric_encoder.rs b/lib/src/store/numeric_encoder.rs
index 2af46ad7..d81718e7 100644
--- a/lib/src/store/numeric_encoder.rs
+++ b/lib/src/store/numeric_encoder.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use failure::format_err;
 use failure::Backtrace;
 use failure::Fail;
 use ordered_float::OrderedFloat;
+use rand::random;
 use rio_api::model as rio;
 use rust_decimal::Decimal;
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
@@ -19,7 +20,6 @@ use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::str;
 use std::sync::PoisonError;
 use std::sync::RwLock;
-use uuid::Uuid;
 
 const EMPTY_STRING_ID: u64 = 0;
 const RDF_LANG_STRING_ID: u64 = 1;
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ pub const ENCODED_XSD_DATE_TIME_NAMED_NODE: EncodedTerm = EncodedTerm::NamedNode
 pub enum EncodedTerm {
     DefaultGraph,
     NamedNode { iri_id: u64 },
-    BlankNode(Uuid),
+    BlankNode { id: u128 },
     StringLiteral { value_id: u64 },
     LangStringLiteral { value_id: u64, language_id: u64 },
     TypedLiteral { value_id: u64, datatype_id: u64 },
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ impl EncodedTerm {
 
     pub fn is_blank_node(&self) -> bool {
         match self {
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_) => true,
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. } => true,
             _ => false,
         }
     }
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ impl EncodedTerm {
         match self {
             EncodedTerm::DefaultGraph { .. } => TYPE_DEFAULT_GRAPH_ID,
             EncodedTerm::NamedNode { .. } => TYPE_NAMED_NODE_ID,
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(_) => TYPE_BLANK_NODE_ID,
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { .. } => TYPE_BLANK_NODE_ID,
             EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { .. } => TYPE_STRING_LITERAL,
             EncodedTerm::LangStringLiteral { .. } => TYPE_LANG_STRING_LITERAL_ID,
             EncodedTerm::TypedLiteral { .. } => TYPE_TYPED_LITERAL_ID,
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ impl From<NaiveDateTime> for EncodedTerm {
 
 impl From<BlankNode> for EncodedTerm {
     fn from(node: BlankNode) -> Self {
-        EncodedTerm::BlankNode(node.uuid())
+        EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id: node.id() }
     }
 }
 
@@ -410,11 +410,9 @@ impl<R: Read> TermReader for R {
             TYPE_NAMED_NODE_ID => Ok(EncodedTerm::NamedNode {
                 iri_id: self.read_u64::<LittleEndian>()?,
             }),
-            TYPE_BLANK_NODE_ID => {
-                let mut uuid_buffer = [0 as u8; 16];
-                self.read_exact(&mut uuid_buffer)?;
-                Ok(EncodedTerm::BlankNode(Uuid::from_bytes(uuid_buffer)))
-            }
+            TYPE_BLANK_NODE_ID => Ok(EncodedTerm::BlankNode {
+                id: self.read_u128::<LittleEndian>()?,
+            }),
             TYPE_LANG_STRING_LITERAL_ID => Ok(EncodedTerm::LangStringLiteral {
                 language_id: self.read_u64::<LittleEndian>()?,
                 value_id: self.read_u64::<LittleEndian>()?,
@@ -576,7 +574,7 @@ impl<W: Write> TermWriter for W {
         match term {
             EncodedTerm::DefaultGraph => {}
             EncodedTerm::NamedNode { iri_id } => self.write_u64::<LittleEndian>(iri_id)?,
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(id) => self.write_all(id.as_bytes())?,
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id } => self.write_u128::<LittleEndian>(id)?,
             EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id } => {
                 self.write_u64::<LittleEndian>(value_id)?;
             }
@@ -686,7 +684,9 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
     }
 
     pub fn encode_blank_node(&self, blank_node: &BlankNode) -> Result<EncodedTerm> {
-        Ok(EncodedTerm::BlankNode(blank_node.uuid()))
+        Ok(EncodedTerm::BlankNode {
+            id: blank_node.id(),
+        })
     }
 
     pub fn encode_literal(&self, literal: &Literal) -> Result<EncodedTerm> {
@@ -742,14 +742,14 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
     pub fn encode_rio_blank_node(
         &self,
         blank_node: rio::BlankNode,
-        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, Uuid>,
+        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, u128>,
     ) -> Result<EncodedTerm> {
-        Ok(if let Some(uuid) = bnodes_map.get(blank_node.id) {
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(*uuid)
+        Ok(if let Some(id) = bnodes_map.get(blank_node.id) {
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id: *id }
         } else {
-            let uuid = Uuid::new_v4();
-            bnodes_map.insert(blank_node.id.to_owned(), uuid);
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(uuid)
+            let id = random::<u128>();
+            bnodes_map.insert(blank_node.id.to_owned(), id);
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id }
         })
     }
 
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
     pub fn encode_rio_named_or_blank_node(
         &self,
         term: rio::NamedOrBlankNode,
-        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, Uuid>,
+        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, u128>,
     ) -> Result<EncodedTerm> {
         match term {
             rio::NamedOrBlankNode::NamedNode(named_node) => self.encode_rio_named_node(named_node),
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
     pub fn encode_rio_term(
         &self,
         term: rio::Term,
-        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, Uuid>,
+        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, u128>,
     ) -> Result<EncodedTerm> {
         match term {
             rio::Term::NamedNode(named_node) => self.encode_rio_named_node(named_node),
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
     pub fn encode_rio_quad(
         &self,
         quad: rio::Quad,
-        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, Uuid>,
+        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, u128>,
     ) -> Result<EncodedQuad> {
         Ok(EncodedQuad {
             subject: self.encode_rio_named_or_blank_node(quad.subject, bnodes_map)?,
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
         &self,
         triple: rio::Triple,
         graph_name: EncodedTerm,
-        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, Uuid>,
+        bnodes_map: &mut HashMap<String, u128>,
     ) -> Result<EncodedQuad> {
         Ok(EncodedQuad {
             subject: self.encode_rio_named_or_blank_node(triple.subject, bnodes_map)?,
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ impl<S: StringStore> Encoder<S> {
             EncodedTerm::NamedNode { iri_id } => {
                 Ok(NamedNode::new_from_string(self.get_str(iri_id)?).into())
             }
-            EncodedTerm::BlankNode(id) => Ok(BlankNode::from(id).into()),
+            EncodedTerm::BlankNode { id } => Ok(BlankNode::new_from_unique_id(id).into()),
             EncodedTerm::StringLiteral { value_id } => {
                 Ok(Literal::new_simple_literal(self.get_str(value_id)?).into())
             }