Performance evaluation of a mesophilic (37 degrees C) upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor in treating distiller's grains wastewater

J Hazard Mater. 2007 Mar 22;141(3):808-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.07.047. Epub 2006 Jul 27.

Abstract

The performance of a laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating distiller's grains wastewater was investigated for 420 days at 37 degrees C. After a successful start-up, 80-97.3% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were achieved at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 82-11h with organic loading rates (OLR) of 5-48.3kgCODm(-3)d(-1). The biogas mainly consisted of methane and carbon dioxide, and the methane and carbon dioxide content in the biogas was 57-60 and 38-41%, respectively. The yield coefficient of methane production was 0.3182lCH(4)g(-1)COD removed until OLR at 33.3kgCODm(-3)d(-1), but afterwards began to decrease. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the effluent mainly consisted of acetate and propionate, accounting for more than 95% of total VFA as COD, and other VFA was detected at insignificant concentrations. The mesophilic granules developed in this study showed an excellent specific methanogenic activity (SMA) at 0.91 and 1.12gmethaneCODg(-1)VSS(-1)d(-1) using sucrose and acetate as individual substrates on day 200, respectively.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors*
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
  • Industrial Waste*
  • Methane / biosynthesis
  • Sewage
  • Temperature
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Wine*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Industrial Waste
  • Sewage
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Methane