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Methane Production From Ozonated Pulp Mill Effluent
Author(s) -
Bremmon Craig E.,
Jurgensen Martin F.,
Patton John T.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900030017x
Subject(s) - fermentation , chemistry , industrial fermentation , pulp and paper industry , sulfite , anaerobic digestion , acetic acid , volatile suspended solids , effluent , food science , methane , bioconversion , mesophile , chemical oxygen demand , wastewater , waste management , bacteria , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , engineering , genetics
A study was made on the production of methane from desugared spent sulfite liquor (SSL) reacted with ozone. The ozonated SSL was fed continuously to three anaerobic fermenters for three months as the sole source of carbon and energy. The fermenters were inoculated with anaerobic bacteria obtained from sewage sludge and acclimated for 1 month in ozonated SSL prior to continuous fermentation. Chemical and biological parameters such as COD, BOD 5 , total sulfur content, redox potential, pH, fatty acid composition, and methane bacteria populations were monitored to determine changes in the SSL during fermentation. Methane production from ozone‐treated SSL averaged 1.7 liters/liter or 17 ml of CH 4 produced/gram of volatile solids fed. Fatty acids analysis of fermenter effluent indicated a net production of 58 m M /liter of acetate during ozonated SSL fermentation. This acetic acid production shows future potential for further fermentation by protein‐producing yeast. Although the rate of conversion of volatile solids to CH 4 in this process was not competitive with domestic or agricultural waste digesters, this study did indicate the potential benefits of ozonating organic wastes for increased methane fermentation yields.