Related Experiment Videos
Process kinetics of upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactors treating inhibitory substrate
Charng-Gwo Jih1, Ju-Sheng Huang, Shin-Yen Huang
1Department of Environmental Engineering and Health, Tajen Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan, Republic of China. jih@ccsun.tajen.edu.tw
Summary
A new kinetic model accurately predicts phenol degradation in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. The model considers methanogen distribution and granule size, improving wastewater treatment efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Kinetics
Background:
- Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors are crucial for wastewater treatment.
- Understanding the kinetics of anaerobic digestion, particularly phenol degradation, is vital for optimizing reactor performance.
- Granule size distribution and methanogen activity significantly influence the efficiency of UASB reactors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel kinetic model for anaerobic phenol degradation in UASB reactors.
- To incorporate the distributed fraction of methanogens (f) and granule-size distribution into the kinetic model.
- To validate the proposed model using experimental data from UASB reactors operated at different superficial flow velocities.
Main Methods:
- Development of a kinetic model accounting for methanogen fraction (f) and granule size distribution.
- Experimental investigation of phenol degradation in four UASB reactors with varying superficial flow velocities (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 m/h).
- Comparison of model predictions with experimental data for residual phenol, volatile fatty acids, and chemical oxygen demand.
Main Results:
- The proposed kinetic model demonstrated good agreement with experimental data for phenol, volatile fatty acids, and chemical oxygen demand.
- Increased superficial flow velocity (u(s)) and volumetric loading led to an increase in UASB reactor granule size.
- Higher volumetric loading resulted in decreased methanogen fraction (f), with larger f values observed in the lower and middle sections of the sludge bed compared to the upper section.
Conclusions:
- The developed kinetic model provides an accurate representation of anaerobic phenol degradation in UASB reactors.
- Reactor operating conditions, specifically superficial flow velocity and volumetric loading, influence granule size and methanogen distribution.
- Optimizing these parameters can enhance the efficiency of phenol removal in UASB systems.