Basic Studies on Anaerobic Degradation of Glucose in Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors
The two series of the characteristics of anaerobic degradation of low glucose concentrations were investigated. In the first series, the pH value in each reactor was not controlled. In the second series, the pH value in each reactor was controlled in the range of 6.9–7.2, by adding sodium bicarbonate into each influent. The ORP value was depressed by controlling the pH value of each reactor from acid range to approximately neutral range. In the pH uncontrolled series, the pH value in outflow decreased with increasing glucose concentration. In the pH uncontrolled series, produced total volatile fatty acid was about 70 to 550 mg/l; on the other hand, in pH controlled series, produced total volatile fatty acid was about 50 mg/l to 350 mg/l. The highest concentrations of acids formed were acetic acids, the second highest formed were propionic acids, the last formed were butyric acids. In the pH uncontrolled series, the maximum reaction rate constant Vm was 0.749 gCOD/gVS · day and the saturation constant Ks = 0.435 g/l. On the other hand, in the pH controlled series, the maximum reaction rate constant Vm was 1.441 gCOD/gVS · day and the saturation constant Ks = 0.739 g/l. Thus by controlling the pH value of the reactor, the activities of the anaerobic bacteria were much enhanced.