Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Anaerobic treatment of concentrated industrial wastewater

Journal Article · · Environ. Prog.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670040109· OSTI ID:6311323
Test results are given for anaerobic digestion with the production of methane as a possible treatment for industrial landfill leachate. The study of volatile fatty acids during batch experiments provides several insights into the degradation of organic solutes in the complex wastewater used. A one tenth dilution of leachate led to a very slight lag period for the removal of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, with an unadapted culture of selected organisms. An overall dissolved organic carbon reduction of 61% was noted during a batch experiment using a leachate dilution of 5% and a culture adapted to leachate. The build-up of butyrate indicates a breakdown of other, larger organic species in the leachate. When a culture selected for volatile fatty acid degradation was used, this effect was not observed. Apparently the organisms responsible for the formation of butyrate from higher compounds are not present in this culture. Inhibition of methane occurs when the leachate adapted culture is dosed with leachate, presumably because of sulfate reducers. 9 references, 9 figures, 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Rutgers - The State Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
OSTI ID:
6311323
Journal Information:
Environ. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 4:1; ISSN ENVPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English