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Staged and non‐staged anaerobic filters: Microbial activity segregation, hydrodynamic behaviour and performance
Author(s) -
Alves Madalena,
Pereira Alcina,
Mota Manuel,
Novais Júlio M.,
Colleran Emer
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(1998100)73:2<99::aid-jctb934>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - acidogenesis , chemistry , hydraulic retention time , anaerobic exercise , propionate , pulp and paper industry , methanogenesis , biogas , methane , chemical oxygen demand , residence time (fluid dynamics) , residence time distribution , bioreactor , anaerobic digestion , wastewater , environmental science , environmental engineering , waste management , biochemistry , biology , mineralogy , organic chemistry , engineering , physiology , geotechnical engineering , inclusion (mineral)
This work describes a comparative study of staged and non‐staged anaerobic filters for treating a synthetic dairy waste under similar operating conditions. The effect of increasing the substrate concentration from 3 to 12 g COD dm −3 at a constant hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 2 days was evaluated with respect to overall reactor performance, biogas production, volatile fatty acids profiles along the height, methanogenic and acidogenic activity distribution, and hydrodynamic behaviour. The potential maximum specific methanogenic activity against acetate, hydrogen, propionate and butyrate and the lactose specific activity were determined for sludge sampled from three different points in each reactor, under two operating conditions (influent COD of 3 and 9 g COD dm −3 ). Although all trophic groups involved in the anaerobic process were found throughout the reactors, it was possible to identify different specific sludges at different heights in both reactors. Performances of the two configurations were very similar under the operating conditions tested and the plug flow behaviour of the staged reactor was clearly reduced when the influent concentration increased from 3 to 9 g COD dm −3 . © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry