Granulation of biomass in thermophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors treating acidified wastewaters
The development of granular sludge in thermophilic (55 degrees C) upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors was investigated. Acetate and a mixture of acetate and butyrate were used as substrates, serving as models for acidified wastewaters. Granular sludge with either Methanothrix or Methanosarcina as the predominant acetate utilizing methanogen was cultivated by allowing the loading rate to increase whenever the acetate concentration in the effluent dropped below 200 and 700 mg COD/l, respectively. The highest methane generation rates, up to 162 kg CH/sub 4/-COD/cubic m. day, or 2.53 mole CH/sub 4//l day, were achieved at hydraulic retention times down to 21 min, with granules consisting of Methanothrix. The formation of Methanothrix granules did not depend on the type of seed material, nor on the addition of inert support particles. The growth of granules proceeded rapidly with adapted seed material, even when the reactors were inoculated with low concentrations. With mesophilic seed materials growth of granules took much longer. Thermophilic Methanothrix granules strongly resemble mesophilic granules of the filamentous type. Some factors governing the thermophilic granulation process are discussed. 20 references.
- Research Organization:
- Agricultural Univ., Wageningen, The Netherlands
- OSTI ID:
- 5261199
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. 28:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Methanogenesis in a thermophilic (58/sup 0/C) anaerobic digestor: methanothrix sp. as an important aceticlastic methanogen
Methanogenesis in a thermophilic (58 degrees C) anaerobic digestor: Methanothrix sp. as an important aceticlastic methanogen
Related Subjects
SLUDGES
AGGLOMERATION
WASTE WATER
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
ACETATES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOMASS
BIOREACTORS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
LOADING RATE
METHANE
SUBSTRATES
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ALKANES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)