Using a fluidized bed reactor, experiments on glucose decomposition with and without sulfate reduction were conducted. Glucose in the reactor was mainly decomposed into lactate and ethanol. Lactate was mainly decomposed into propionate and acetate, while ethanol was decomposed into propionate, acetate, and hydrogen. Sulfate reduction was not involved in the decomposition of glucose, lactate, and ethanol, but was related to propionate and acetate decomposition. The stepwise reactions were modeled using either a Monod expression or first order reaction kinetics in respect to the reactions. The coefficients of the kinetic equations were determined experimentally. The modified Monod and first order reaction equations were effective at predicting concentrations of glucose, lactate, ethanol, propionate, acetate, and sulfate along the beight of the reactor. With sulfate reduction, propionate was decomposed into acetate, while without sulfate reduction, accumulation of propionate was observed in the reactor. Sulfate reduction accelerated propionate conversion into acetate by decreasing the hydrogen concentration.
Qualitative Properties of Autocatalytic Reactions Occurring in a Flow System
