Control of anaerobic digestion toxicity with powdered activated carbon

Conference · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5074799

Ng, A S; Torpy, M F; Rose, C M

Anaerobic biological treatment systems offer advantages over aerobic systems in terms of lower energy requirements, less biological solids production, and the potential for energy recovery in the form of methane gas. While the use of anaerobic biotechnology is widespread in municipalities, there is a general reluctance among industrial waste engineers to accept anaerobic processes as a viable alternative for the detoxification/stabilization of industrial wastes. This reluctance apparently stems from concerns that anaerobic treatment processes are, in general, less stable and less tolerant to toxins than their metabolically more diverse aerobic counterparts. Powered activated carbon (PAC) has been used with activated sludge processes for the treatment of wastewaters containing components resistant to biodegradation and/or toxic to aerobic microorganisms. The mechanism or mechanisms responsible for PAC enhancement of the activated sludge process are not entirely clear; however, it was recently shown that adsorption of inhibitory compounds has a major role in nitrification enhancement. The major objective of this study is to determine if methanogenesis can be enhanced by the addition of PAC. Experiments were designed to test the effect of PAC addition on the anaerobic metabolism of ethanol, in the presence of known adsorbable inhibitors. 14 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5074799
• Report Number(s): CONF-860826-6; ON: DE87001493
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
320604 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
AROMATICS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON
DIGESTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
NITRO COMPOUNDS
NITROBENZENE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES