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System Performance in UASB Reactors Receiving Increasing Levels of Sulfate
Author(s) -
Erdirencelebi Dilek,
Ozturk Izzet,
Ubay Cokgor Emine
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.200700043
Subject(s) - sulfate , alkalinity , chemistry , hydraulic retention time , sulfide , sulfate reducing bacteria , organic matter , biomass (ecology) , environmental chemistry , bioreactor , biosolids , pulp and paper industry , wastewater , environmental engineering , environmental science , ecology , organic chemistry , engineering , biology
Abstract Glucose‐fed high‐rate UASB reactors were tested at three COD/SO 4 ratios and hydraulic retention times to promote sulfate reducing activity and observe the effects on reactor performance. Different COD/SO 4 ratios (20, 10, and 5) resulted in changes in organic matter removal, methane production, alkalinity, dissolved sulfide and biomass concentrations and profile. The COD removal dropped from 95 to 80–84 % at the lowest COD/SO 4 ratio. Sulfate was removed at 79 to 89 % at the highest ratio and dropped to 72 to 74 % with increasing sulfate loading. Alkalinity was produced at higher levels with increasing sulfate loading. Specific methane production dropped with decreasing hydraulic retention times. Sulfate‐reducing activity used a maximum of 11.7 % of organic matter at the highest sulfate loading level, producing a slight shift to sulfate‐reducing activity in the substrate competition between sulfate‐reducing bacteria and methanogens. Increased sulfate loading at COD/SO 4 ratios of 10 and 5 caused deterioration of the concentration profile of the sludge, resulting in biomass washout and decreased volatile fraction of biosolids in the reactors.