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Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
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Example study for granular bioreactor stratification: Three-dimensional evaluation of a sulfate-reducing granular
Tian-Wei Hao1, Jing-Hai Luo1, Kui-Zu Su2
1Department of Civil &Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Scientific Reports
|August 20, 2016
Summary
Biomass stratification in granular sludge bioreactors is key for treating sulfate-laden wastewater. The reactor substratum, rich in diverse sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acidogens, acts as the main acidification zone.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biochemical Engineering
Background:
- Sulfate-reducing granular sludge is emerging for sulfate-laden water and wastewater treatment.
- Biomass stratification within granular bioreactors remains poorly understood, impacting bioprocess efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate biomass stratification, hydrodynamics, and microbial communities in a granular sludge bioreactor.
- To elucidate the role of different sludge layers in sulfate removal and acidification.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive analysis of sludge layer performance, internal hydrodynamics, and microbial community structure.
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for visualizing hydrodynamics.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial community analysis.
Main Results:
- The reactor substratum (below baffle 1) was identified as the primary acidification zone.
- Baffles enhanced mixing but created dead zones.
- More diverse sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acidogen communities were found in the substratum compared to the superstratum.
Conclusions:
- Biomass stratification significantly influences bioreactor performance.
- Understanding sludge layer characteristics aids in designing and optimizing SRB granular bioreactors for effective wastewater treatment.
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