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Anaerobic filters for the treatment of coal gasification wastewater
Author(s) -
Suidan Makram T.,
Siekerka Gerald L.,
Kao ShuWen,
Pfeffer John T.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260250612
Subject(s) - anaerobic filter , activated carbon , activated sludge , wastewater , biofilter , pulp and paper industry , effluent , organic matter , waste management , nitrification , powdered activated carbon treatment , chemistry , anaerobic exercise , methane , sewage treatment , anaerobic digestion , environmental science , adsorption , environmental engineering , nitrogen , organic chemistry , biology , physiology , engineering
A process train consisting of the following sequence of unit processes, a berl‐saddle‐packed anaerobic filter, an expanded bed, granular activated carbon anaerobic filter, and an activated sludge nitrification system was evaluated for the treatment of a synthetically prepared coal gasification wastewater. The first‐stage anaerobic filter resulted in very little removal of organic matter and no methane production. Excellent reduction in organic matter occurred in the granular activated carbon anaerobic filter. The removal mechanism was initially adsorptive and near the end of the study, removal of organic matter was primarily through conversion to methane gas. It is felt that the success of the activated carbon anaerobic filter was due to the ability of the activated carbon to sequester some components of the wastewater that were toxic to the mixed culture of anaerobic microorganisms. The activated sludge nitrification system resulted in complete ammonia oxidation and was very efficient in final effluent polishing.