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Bamboo as a support material in anaerobic reactors.
W P Tritt1, F Zadrazil, U Menge-Hartmann
1Federal Research Centre of Agriculture, Institute of Technology, Bundesallee 50, D-W-3300, Braunschweig, Germany.
World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology
|January 15, 2014
Summary
Bamboo support rings in anaerobic reactors degrade significantly within a year. Despite mass loss and reduced wall thickness, bamboo proves suitable for long-term anaerobic reactor applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Anaerobic reactors utilize support materials for microbial growth.
- Bamboo is a potential sustainable material for these applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term performance and degradation of bamboo rings used as support material in anaerobic reactors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2.5-cm thick bamboo rings over a 2-year period.
- Monitoring changes in dry mass, wall thickness, and absorbable pressure.
Main Results:
- Wash out and degradation were mostly complete within 6-12 months.
- Dry mass loss asymptotically approached 15% (w/w).
- Wall thickness decreased by 0.8 mm, and absorbable pressure reduced by 21% over 2 years.
Conclusions:
- Bamboo exhibits significant degradation and mass loss within the first year.
- The observed changes indicate bamboo is a suitable material for long-term use in anaerobic reactors.
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