Effect of process configuration and substrate complexity on the performance of anaerobic processes

The roles of substrate complexity (molecular size of the substrate) and process configuration in anaerobic wastewater treatment were investigated to determine optimal methanogenic technology parameters. Five substrates (glucose, propionate, butyrate, ethanol, and lactate) plus a mixed waste (60% carbohydrate, 34% protein, and 6% lipids) were studied under five reactor configurations: batch-fed single-stage continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), continuously fed single-stage CSTR, two-phase CSTR, two-stage CSTR, and single-stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). The substrate feed concentration was 20,000 mg/L as COD. The solids retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the CSTR reactors were 20 d, while HRT in the UASB was 2 d. All reactors were operated for at least 60 d (equal to 3SRT). Substrate complexity was observed to be less significant under two-phase, two-stage and UASB reactor configurations. Two-phase CSTR, two-stage CSTR, and single-stage UASB configurations yielded the lowest effluent chemical oxygen demands (130-550, 60-700, and 50-250 mg/L, respectively). The highest effluent chemical oxygen demands were detected when feeding glucose, propionate, and lactate to continuously fed single-stage CSTRs (10, 400, 9900, and 4700 mg/L COD, respectively) and to batch-fed single-stage CSTRs (11, 200, 2500, and 2700 mg/L COD, respectively). Ironically, the one stage CSTR--most commonly utilized in the field--was the worst possible reactor configuration.     

Anaerobic biodegradability and treatment of grey water in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

Feasibility of grey water treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operated at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 16, 10 and 6h and controlled temperature of 30 degrees C was investigated. Moreover, the maximum anaerobic biodegradability without inoculum addition and maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions in grey water were determined in batch experiments. High values of maximum anaerobic biodegradability (76%) and maximum COD removal in the UASB reactor (84%) were achieved. The results showed that the colloidal COD had the highest maximum anaerobic biodegradability (86%) and the suspended and dissolved COD had similar maximum anaerobic biodegradability of 70%. Furthermore, the results of the UASB reactor demonstrated that a total COD removal of 52-64% was obtained at HRT between 6 and 16 h. The UASB reactor removed 22-30% and 15-21% of total nitrogen and total phosphorous in the grey water, respectively, mainly due to the removal of particulate nutrients. The characteristics of the sludge in the UASB reactor confirmed that the reactor had a stable performance. The minimum sludge residence time and the maximum specific methanogenic activity of the sludge ranged between 27 and 93 days and 0.18 and 0.28 kg COD/(kg VS d).     

Performance of UASB reactor treating leachate from acidogenic fermenter in the two-phase anaerobic digestion of food waste

This study was conducted to investigate the performance of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating leachate from acidogenic fermenter in the two-phase anaerobic digestion of food waste. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was consistently over 96% up to the loading rates of 15.8 g COD/l d. The methane production rate increased to 5.51/l d. Of all the COD removed, 92% was converted to methane and the remaining presumably to biomass. At loading rates over 18.7 g COD/l d, the COD removal efficiency decreased due to sludge flotation and washout in the reactor, which resulted from short HRT of less than 10.6 h. The residual propionate concentration was the highest among the volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the effluent. The specific methanogenic activity (SMA) analysis showed that the VFA-degrading activity of granule was the highest for butyrate, and the lowest for propionate. Typical granules were found to be mainly composed of microcolonies of Methanosaeta. The size distribution of sludge particles indicated that partially granulated sludge could maintain the original structure of granular sludge and continue to gain size in the UASB reactor treating leachate from acidogenic fermenter.     

产甲烷UASB中颗粒污泥的快速培养及特性研究

在两相厌氧反应器的基础上,进行了产甲烷UASB中颗粒污泥的快速培养及特性研究.采用低负荷启动方式,通过快速提高进水COD和缩短水力停留时间使产甲烷UASB在最佳条件下运行,36d后产甲烷UASB中粒径>1.0 mm的颗粒污泥占64%,出水COD稳定在300 mg/L以下,可认为颗粒污泥培养成功.颗粒污泥的成熟经历了形成不规则核心、挤压架桥、分割成长、修剪长大四个阶段,加速污泥颗粒化的因素包括适宜的生长环境、良好的水力特征等.     

Pre-acidification in anaerobic sludge bed process treating brewery wastewater

The effect of pre-acidification on anaerobic granule bed processes treating brewery wastewater was the focus of a comparison study employing two configurations, (a) a single stage upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) and (b) an upflow acidification reactor in series with a methanogenic UASB. The pre-acidification reactor achieved 20±4% SCOD removal and 0.08±0.003 L of methane produced per gram of SCOD removal at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 0.75–4 h. Butyric acid was not detected and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were mainly acetic and propionic acids. The acidification ratio was about 0.42±0.02 g SCFAs as COD/g of influent COD.

Both systems’ critical loading rate to achieve 80% COD removal was established at 34–39 kg COD/m³ of total sludge bed volume per day. SCOD removal efficiency of 90±3% was achieved by both systems at an organic loading rate of 25±1 kg COD/m³ of total sludge bed volume per day, indicating that the installation of an acidification reactor had no effect in terms of the maximum granular activity, biomass granulation and the settleability of granules. At an organic loading rate of 67 kg COD/m³ of total sludge bed volume per day at an HRT of 1 h, the series system outperformed the single UASB by a removal of 62 compared to 57%.     

Integrated application of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor for the treatment of wastewaters

The UASB process among other treatment methods has been recognized as a core method of an advanced technology for environmental protection. This paper highlights the treatment of seven types of wastewaters i.e. palm oil mill effluent (POME), distillery wastewater, slaughterhouse wastewater, piggery wastewater, dairy wastewater, fishery wastewater and municipal wastewater (black and gray) by UASB process. The purpose of this study is to explore the pollution load of these wastewaters and their treatment potential use in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket process. The general characterization of wastewater, treatment in UASB reactor with operational parameters and reactor performance in terms of COD removal and biogas production are thoroughly discussed in the paper. The concrete data illustrates the reactor configuration, thus giving maximum awareness about upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor for further research. The future aspects for research needs are also outlined.     

Application of bacteria involved in the biological sulfur cycle for paper mill effluent purification

In anaerobic wastewater treatment, the occurrence of biological sulfate reduction results in the formation of unwanted hydrogen sulfide, which is odorous, corrosive and toxic. In this paper, the role and application of bacteria in anaerobic and aerobic sulfur transformations are described and exemplified for the treatment of a paper mill wastewater. The sulfate containing wastewater first passes an anaerobic UASB reactor for bulk COD removal which is accompanied by the formation of biogas and hydrogen sulfide. In an aeration pond, the residual COD_organic and the formed dissolved hydrogen sulfide are removed. The biogas, consisting of CH₄ (80-90 vol.%), CO₂ (10-20 vol.%) and H₂S (0.8-1.2 vol.%), is desulfurised prior to its combustion in a power generator thereby using a new biological process for H₂S removal. This process will be described in more detail in this paper. Biomass from the anaerobic bioreactor has a compact granular structure and contains a diverse microbial community. Therefore, other anaerobic bioreactors throughout the world are inoculated with biomass from this UASB reactor. The sludge was also successfully used in investigation on sulfate reduction with carbon monoxide as the electron donor and the conversion of methanethiol. This shows the biotechnological potential of this complex reactor biomass.     

固定化酶酸化反应器/UASB处理黄浆废水的研究

针对现有两相厌氧反应器微生物易流失以及单方面延长酸化相的停留时间导致的过酸化影响后续甲烷化过程的现象，开发了一套新型两相厌氧处理系统，其酸化相是采用大孔树脂固定化酶作生物载体的水解酸化反应器，产甲烷相则是接种了经长期驯化培养的高温厌氧污泥的UASB。采用该装置处理玉米加工过程中产生的富含蛋白质废水（黄浆废水），考察了进水COD浓度和负荷、C／N值等因素对系统处理效能的影响。结果表明：该装置运行稳定，在低C／N值和低负荷条件下，酸化相的酸化率（VFA／COD）即可达30％以上，其出水pH值稳定在6．7～7．0；产甲烷相对COD的去除率为91．3％，进水C／N值对产甲烷相去除COD有明显影响。     

Applying an electric field in a built-in zero valent iron--anaerobic reactor for enhancement of sludge granulation

A zero valent iron (ZVI) bed with a pair of electrodes was installed in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to create an enhanced condition to increase the rate of anaerobic granulation. The effects of an electric field and ZVI on granulation were investigated in three UASB reactors operated in parallel: an electric field enhanced ZVI-UASB reactor (reactor R1), a ZVI-UASB reactor (reactor R2) and a common UASB reactor (reactor R3). When a voltage of 1.4 V was supplied to reactor R1, COD removal dramatically increased from 60.3% to 90.7% over the following four days, while the mean granule size rapidly grew from 151.4 μm to 695.1 μm over the following 38 days. Comparatively, COD removal was lower and the increase in granule size was slower in the other two reactors (in the order: R1 > R2 > R3). The electric field caused the ZVI to more effectively buffer acidity and maintain a relatively low oxidation-reduction potential in the reactor. In addition, the electric field resulted in a significant increase in ferrous ion leaching and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. These changes benefited methanogenesis and granulation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that different microorganisms were dominant in the external and internal layers of the reactor R1 granules. Additionally, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis indicated that the relative abundance of methanogens in reactor R1 was significantly greater than in the other two reactors. Taken together, these results suggested that the use of ZVI combined with an electric field in an UASB reactor could effectively enhance the sludge granulation.     

Anaerobic sewage treatment in a one-stage UASB reactor and a combined UASB-Digester system

The treatment of sewage at 15 degrees C was investigated in a one-stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and a UASB-Digester system. The latter consists of a UASB reactor complemented with a digester for mutual sewage treatment and sludge stabilisation. The UASB reactor was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 6h and a controlled temperature of 15 degrees C, the average sewage temperature during wintertime of some Middle East countries. The digester was operated at 35 degrees C. The UASB-Digester system provided significantly (significance level 5%) higher COD removal efficiencies than the one-stage UASB reactor. The achieved removal efficiencies in the UASB-Digester system and the one-stage UASB reactor for total, suspended, colloidal and dissolved COD were 66%, 87%, 44% and 30%, and 44%, 73%, 3% and 5% for both systems, respectively. The stability values of the wasted sludge from the one-stage UASB reactor and the UASB-Digester system were, respectively, 0.47 and 0.36g CH(4)-COD/g COD. Therefore, the anaerobic sewage treatment at low temperature in a UASB-Digester system is promising.     

制药废水处理工艺的改造

某制药厂由于新上生产项目,使综合废水中有机污染物和硫酸盐浓度大幅升高,所以必须对原处理工艺进行改造.改造工艺主要采用UASB反应器、SBR反应器及深层曝气池,其中UASB反应器采用两相(产酸及硫酸盐还原相、产甲烷相)厌氧技术以减少硫酸盐对厌氧过程的影响.经改造后,出水水质达到<污水综合排放标准>(GB 8978-1996)的一级标准.     

Development of anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR), a novel anaerobic treatment system

A novel anaerobic treatment system, the anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR), was developed after completing a parallel study with upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) processes. Using sucrose as the main component of a synthetic wastewater, the AMBR achieved a maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate of 30 g.l-1.day-1 at a 12-h hydraulic retention time (HRT). This resulted in a standard methane production rate (SMPR) of 6.51.l-1.day-1 and an average methane-based COD (MCOD) removal efficiency of 62.2%. A key element in granular biomass formation was migration of the biomass blanket through the reactor. Although a carbohydrate-rich wastewater was used, no separate pre-acidification was required for the AMBR, because of high mixing intensities and wash out of acidogenic bacteria. In contrast, the absence of pre-acidification created "bulking" problems (caused by abundant acidogenic bacteria at the surface of granules) in a UASB reactor, operated under conditions similar to that of the AMBR. As a result, a maximum COD loading rate and SMPR of 21 g.l-1.day-1 and 4.91.l-1.day-1 were achieved, respectively, for the UASB reactor at a 12-h HRT. These values were 18 g.l-1.day-1 and 3.71.l-1.day-1, respectively, for an ASBR at a 12-h HRT. Hence, the performance of the AMBR in treating a carbohydrate-rich wastewater was found to be superior in terms of maximum loading rate and SMPR.     

两相厌氧产氢产甲烷工艺的最新研究进展

利用两相厌氧产氢、产甲烷方法处理各种有机废物和有机废水,可实现有机废物的无害化、减量化、稳定化及资源化,是目前该领域的研究热点。介绍了国内外有关两相厌氧产氢、产甲烷处理有机废水和固体废弃物的最新研究进展,包括两相厌氧处理的有机质及反应器类型、产酸段的动力学模型及产氢相和产甲烷相的优势菌群等。已有结果表明,采用两相厌氧产氢、产甲烷反应器处理有机废水及有机固体废弃物,可实现产氢和产甲烷最大化,具有良好的应用前景。     

Anaerobic biodegradation of aircraft deicing fluid in UASB reactors

A central composite design was employed to methodically investigate anaerobic treatment of aircraft deicing fluid (ADF) in bench-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors. A total of 23 runs at 17 different operating conditions (0.8% 1.6% ADF (6000-12,000mg/L COD), 12-56h HRT, and 18-36gVSS/L) were conducted in continuous mode. The development of four empirical models describing process responses (i.e. COD removal efficiency, biomass-specific acetoclastic activity, methane production rate, and methane production potential) as functions of ADF concentration, hydraulic retention time, and biomass concentration is presented. Model verification indicated that predicted responses (COD removal efficiencies, biomass-specific acetoclastic activity, and methane production rates and potential) were in good agreement with experimental results. Biomass-specific acetoclastic activity was improved two-fold from 0.23gCOD/gVSS/d for inoculum to a maximum of 0.55gCOD/gVSS/d during ADF treatment in UASB reactors. For the design window, COD removal efficiencies were higher than 90%. The predicted methane production potentials were close to theoretical values, and methane production rates increased as the organic loading rate is increased. ADF toxicity effects were evident for 1.6% ADF at medium organic loadings (SOLR above 0.5gCOD/gVSS/d). In contrast, good reactor stability and excellent COD removal efficiencies were achieved at 1.2% ADF for reactor loadings approaching that of highly loaded systems (0.73gCOD/gVSS/d).     

内循环UASB处理酒精废水及其颗粒污泥特性

针对传统UASB反应器在启动时颗粒污泥形成缓慢的问题,采用内循环UASB反应器作为厌氧单元对酒精废水进行处理。其以低负荷启动,启动完成后容积负荷为7.9 kg/(m3.d),对COD的去除率可达80%,整个试验阶段对NH3-N的平均去除率为16.38%。扫描电镜显示颗粒污泥中的优势菌开始为短杆菌,随着培养时间的延长则出现了球菌;而现有UASB反应器中颗粒污泥的优势菌为丝状菌。对沼气成分进行分析,CH4含量最高为81.61%,N2含量则随着颗粒污泥培养时间的延长由3.68%增加至18.59%。     

Characterization of microbial trophic structures of two anaerobic bioreactors processing sulfate-rich waste streams

A multi-compartment anaerobic bioreactor, designated the anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR), did not perform well in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal after an increase in sulfate load, compared to a conventional upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The trophic structures of the bioreactors were characterized by analyzing the electron flows, formation and consumption of fermentation intermediates and terminal product (methane and hydrogen sulfide) formation. Critical performance parameters were linked to operational perturbations such as increase in sulfate load and changes in flow reversal schemes in the AMBR. Both of these manipulations affected the microbial communities, which were monitored by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis targeting the bacterial and archaeal domains. The less stable AMBR did not produce granular biomass, and in response to increased sulfate concentrations, experienced a reversal in the distribution of hydrogenotrophic methanogens that correlated with a shift in electron flow from butyrate to propionate. As this shift occurred, bacterial populations such as butyrate-producing clostridia, became predominant, thus leading to reactor imbalance. The stable UASB reactor developed and retained granules and maintained a relatively stable archaeal community. Sulfate perturbation led to the selection of a novel bacterial group (Thermotogaceae), which was most likely well adapted to the increasingly sulfidogenic conditions in the bioreactor.     

Innovative self-powered submersible microbial electrolysis cell (SMEC) for biohydrogen production from anaerobic reactors

A self-powered submersible microbial electrolysis cell (SMEC), in which a specially designed anode chamber and external electricity supply were not needed, was developed for in situ biohydrogen production from anaerobic reactors. In batch experiments, the hydrogen production rate reached 17.8 mL/L/d at the initial acetate concentration of 410 mg/L (5 mM), while the cathodic hydrogen recovery (RH₂) and overall systemic coulombic efficiency (CE_os) were 93% and 28%, respectively, and the systemic hydrogen yield (YH₂) peaked at 1.27 mol-H₂/mol-acetate. The hydrogen production increased along with acetate and buffer concentration. The highest hydrogen production rate of 32.2 mL/L/d and YH₂ of 1.43 mol-H₂/mol-acetate were achieved at 1640 mg/L (20 mM) acetate and 100 mM phosphate buffer. Further evaluation of the reactor under single electricity-generating or hydrogen-producing mode indicated that further improvement of voltage output and reduction of electron losses were essential for efficient hydrogen generation. In addition, alternate exchanging the electricity-assisting and hydrogen-producing function between the two cell units of the SMEC was found to be an effective approach to inhibit methanogens. Furthermore, 16S rRNA genes analysis showed that this special operation strategy resulted same microbial community structures in the anodic biofilms of the two cell units. The simple, compact and in situ applicable SMEC offers new opportunities for reactor design for a microbial electricity-assisted biohydrogen production system.     

UASB处理低浓度城市污水的生产性研究

广东某城市污水处理厂采用UASB-好氧工艺处理低浓度城市污水，对UASB的实际处理效能进行了考察。结果表明，在试验的进水水质条件下，当UASB的水力停留时间为6h时，系统对COD和BOD5的平均去除率分别为50％和60％，对TP的去除率为15％～38％。当HRT由5．67h延长至10h时，出水VFA浓度会随之降低，而pH值则始终稳定在6．5～7．5，系统对COD和BOD5的去除率分别增加9％和19％，对溶解性COD和BOD5的去除率分别增加25％和24％。     

Anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater at ambient temperature: Analysis of archaeal community structure and recovery of dissolved methane

Anaerobic treatment is an attractive option for the biological treatment of municipal wastewater. In this study, municipal wastewater was anaerobically treated with a bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at temperatures from 6 to 31 °C for 18 months to investigate total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, archaeal community structure, and dissolved methane (D-CH₄) recovery efficiency. The COD removal efficiency was more than 50% in summer and below 40% in winter with no evolution of biogas. Analysis of the archaeal community structures of the granular sludge from the UASB using 16S rRNA gene-cloning indicated that after microorganisms had adapted to low temperatures, the archaeal community had a lower diversity and the relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens decreased together with an increase in hydrogenotrophic methanogens. D-CH₄, which was detected in the UASB effluent throughout the operation, could be collected with a degassing membrane. The ratio of the collection to recovery rates was 60% in summer and 100% in winter. For anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater at lower temperatures, hydrogenotrophic methanogens play an important role in COD removal and D-CH₄ can be collected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid wastage of energy resources.     

Novel method for enhancing permeate flux of submerged membrane system in two-phase anaerobic reactor

A two-phase anaerobic reactor system with a submerged membrane in the acidogenic reactor was designed for the enhancement of organic acid conversion and methane recovery. A submerged membrane system in a two-phase anaerobic reactor was tested to increase the sludge retention time (SRT) of acidogen and to enhance the solid separation. The pilot plant experiment was performed for piggery wastewater treatment for a year. The membrane material used was mixed esters of cellulose of 0.5 micron pore size. COD removal efficiency was 80% and the methane production showed 0.32 m3/kg COD removed for the submerged membrane system in the anaerobic digester. As the cake resistance of the membrane caused a serious problem, a stainless-steel prefilter and air backwashing methods were applied to minimize the cake resistance effectively. Among the tested prefilters, the 63 microns pore prefilter showed the best performance for reducing cake resistance and a successful long-term operation. By cleaning with alkali first and acidic solutions later, the permeate flux decreased by long-term operation was recovered to 89% of that with a new membrane.