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Anaerobic treatment of gasifier effluent: Final report. [Organic carbon]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6439734

Studies have been conducted to determine the biological treatability of coal gasification effluent for removal of organic carbon and ammonia. The treatment system consisted of an anaerobic activated carbon filter for organic carbon removal followed by a single stage nitrification system followed by a biological denitrification reactor. Dilute (approx.10%) wastewater was successfully treated over an extended period of time. However, after extended operation (approx. one year) inhibition of the biological system was encountered. This inhibition could be overcome by periodic replacement of a portion of the granular activated carbon contact media. Attempts to utilize the anaerobic system to treat solvent extracted ammonia stripped coal gasification effluent to remove substituted hydantoins was of limited success. Removals of 50% of the influent hydantoins were realized but only very small amounts of gas were produced. Apparently the primary removal mechanism was by adsorption on the granular activated carbon. Batch inhibition studies showed substituted pyridines as the primary inhibitory compounds in the raw wastewater. Carbon adsorption-solvent regeneration for hydantoin removal did not appear to be a viable treatment alternative due to low adsorption capacities and incomplete regeneration of the activated carbon. 37 refs., 63 figs., 23 tabs.

Research Organization:
Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta (USA). School of Civil Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
AC21-81FC10297
OSTI ID:
6439734
Report Number(s):
DOE/FC/10297-2334; ON: DE87001099
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English