Semi-pilot scale-up of a continuous packed-bed bioreactor system developed for the lipase-catalyzed production of pseudo-ceramides

Introduction: The biological denitrification process is an interesting cost-effective technique to remove nitrate from water supplies. Acetic acid can be used as a carbon source in this process, but its consumption rate is a critical issue and, in some cases, it is quite different from stoichiometric constants. The current study aimed to investigate the nitrate removal in an up-flow packed bed bioreactor. Furthermore, various parameters affecting this process were investigated and optimized. In this study, the autotrophic bacteria were used for the heterotrophic process. Materials and Methods: Initially, the autotrophic bacteria were cultured and used for the following heterotrophic conditions in distinct reactors. A pilot-scale anoxic up flow bioreactor packed was constructed using the polyethylene media and applied to remove nitrate from the aqueous environment. Consequently, the effects of hydraulic retention times (HRT) and different acetic acid concentrations as carbon source were evaluated. During the study, the amounts of alkalinity, pH, temperature, and nitrate were checked. Results: The designed bioreactor removed an average of over 88% of nitrate, while the acetic acid consumption was 2 mg/mg NO3-N, which was lower than the stoichiometric constant for heterotrophic process. Moreover, in the three studied HRTs (1.5, 3, and 5 h), the Alkalinity increased from 14.2 to 19.8 %. Conclusion: The results of this study showed high efficiency in nitrate removal via heterotrophic denitrification using acetic acid as carbon source for autotrophic bacteria.

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Biodesulfurization of a Coarse-Grained High Sulfur Coal in a Full-Scale Packed-Bed Bioreactor

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.262.207 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 262 ◽

pp. 207-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ahmad Doodkanlou Milan ◽

Ali Ahmadi ◽

Seyed Mohammad Raouf Hosseini

Keyword(s):

Sulfur Removal ◽

Packed Bed ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Injection Rate ◽

Aeration Rate ◽

Coarse Grained ◽

Solution Ph ◽

Packed Bed Bioreactor ◽

Stirred Tank Reactors ◽

Gypsum Precipitation

Biodesulfurization of a high-sulfur and medium-ash coal product was carried out in a 5-m tall packed bed bioreactor using a mixed culture of iron- and sulfur- oxidizing microorganisms. The feed coal (4 tones) was obtained from a heavy media cyclone product from Takht-Zeitoon coal mine (Tabas, Iran) with a density of -1.4 g/cm3 and a grain size of 0.5-25 mm, having the ash and sulfur contents of 14.92% and 2.46%, respectively. The pilot scale process was performed in a semi-continuous mode with a solution injection rate of 2.5-4.5 lit/min/m2, aeration rate of 4-12 m3/h/m2 and solution pH of 1.7-2, over a period of 190 days. Iron and sulfate ions were controlled during the process in two 1500-L stirred tank reactors by goethite and gypsum precipitation processes, respectively. The column biodesphurization in a period of 170 days was followed by a washing step with HCl to remove sulfate precipitates. Results showed that the total sulfur and ash contents reached to 1.69% and 11.04%, respectively, which were corresponded to 31% sulfur removal and 26% ash removal. It was indicated that biodesulfurization has a good industrial potential to treat coarse-grained high sulfur coals.

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