Kinetic Modeling of Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor - Operating On Distillery Effluent

To identify the viability and performance, distillery effluent having very high organic content was studied on continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Under different organic loading rates (OLR), optimum conditions for highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and biogas generation was found to be for OLR of 0.10 COD kg /d to 0.11 COD kg /d. Highest COD exertion efficiency was found to be around 73% for OLR of 9.166 kg COD/m3/d when hydraulic retention time (HRT) reduced from 15 to 14 days. Biogas generation was observed to be around 30 L/d with a conversion coefficient of 0.405 and 0.12 volatile fatty acids (VFA) to alkalinity ratio were recorded in this stage. Applying the modified Stovere Kincannon model to the reactor, the maximum removal rate constant (Umax) and saturation value constant (Kb) were found to be 17.123 kg/m3/day, and 33.471 kg/m3/day respectively. These records are predominantly significant, when operating the anaerobic biodigesters for treating the distillery effluent along with the production of biogas as an energy sources. CSTR can effectively be employed in treatment of this effluent however post bio-digestion effluent still contains considerable COD. To meet the pollution norms and standards it needs to be treated further. To understand the complex biological treatment process of this effluent further trials are required to be conducted.