Methanogenesis from volatile fatty acids in downflow stationary fixed-film reactor

Methanogenesis was studied in downflow stationary fixed-film bioreactors. The support materials in this study included ceramic Raschig rings, hardwood chips, and sized charcoal. The performances of these support materials have been compared using both synthetic acid mixture and acid products obtained from paper mill sludge. Woodchips appeared to be the most promising support material: The maximum methane productivity of 3.56 L/L day at a nominal retention time of 0.78 day was obtained using initial total acid concentrations of 9.125 g/L. Higher productivity was achieved at the cost of efficiency of the process in terms of conversion of acids. From nitrogen balances, it was deduced that ammonia supplemented methane generation by supplying hydrogen for there duction of carbon dioxide.An ionic balance was developed to ascertain the relationship between the composition and the pH of the liquid and the mole fraction of carbon dioxide in the gas phase. From these ionic balance equations, it was possible to predict the gas phase composition at various retention times. The maximum error between the computed and the experimental values was less than 13%.