Conversion of particulates in an anaerobic expanded bed

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6646696

Morris, J W

Anaerobic attached film processes are receiving increased attention for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. A two-year laboratory study was conducted using the anaerobic attached film expanded bed (AAFEB) process and a substrate wastestream of purified cellulose particles. Other particulates were briefly examined after the mechanisms and kinetics were defined with cellulose. Laboratory scale reactors were fed continuously with a synthetic substrate composed of fine cellulose particles as the only carbon source. The effects of particle size and composition, loading rate, influent particulate concentration, and temperature were also evaluated. Loading rates up to 8 Kg celulose-COD/m/sup 3/-d were achieved with removal efficiencies of 75% to 85% for loading below 6 Kg Cellulose-COD/m/sup 3/-d, HRT of 2.5 to 6 hours at 30/sup 0/C. Experimental evidence showed that the cellulose particles were hydrolyzed in the entrapped phase of the expanded bed volume with soluble uptake and methane generation occurring mainly in the attached microbial films. Particle size had only a minor effect on the degradation kinetics as determined by using cellulose particles varying from 20 ..mu..m to 100 ..mu..m. Although conversion rates at 20/sup 0/C were less than at 30/sup 0/C, the temperature effect in this region is relatively small. Short-term operation at 10/sup 0/C showed a substantial loss of activity possibly indicating that the microbes responsible for hydrolysis were more senstive than the other groups. Data from numerous other particulate substrates (e.g., activated sludge, algae, wheat straw) showed conversions similar to those with cellulose, thus suggesting important practical applications for anaerobic microbial film processes.

• OSTI ID: 6646696
• 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-)
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUID WASTES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER