UASB treatment of wastewater containing concentrated benzoate

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1995)121:10(748)· OSTI ID:128835

Li, Y Y; Fang, H H.P.; Chen, T; Chui, H K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Hong Kong (Hong Kong). Civil and Structural Engineering Dept.

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process removed 97--99% of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater containing concentrated benzoate at 37 C, pH 7.5, a hydraulic retention time of 9.8 h, and loading rates up to 30.6 g-COD/(L {center_dot} day) based on the reactor volume. About 95.2% of the total COD removed was converted to methane; 0.034 g of volatile suspended solids (VSS) was yielded for each gram of COD removed. The highly settleable granules were 1--3 mm in size with a layered microstructure and were composed in abundance of bacteria resembling the benzoate-degrading Syntrophus buswellii. Two interesting observations have led to the postulation that the degradation of benzoate into acetate was probably conducted completely inside the cell of Syntrophus buswellii-like bacteria: (1) no fatty acids except acetate were found in the effluent; and (2) the granules showed very limited butyrate-degrading capability and could not degrade propionate. This study demonstrated the feasibility of removing aromatic pollutants in wastewater by anaerobic processes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 128835
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 121; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AROMATICS
BENZOIC ACID
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL