A New Methodology to Evaluate the Behaviour of Anaerobic Sludge Exposed to Potentially Inhibitory Compounds

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
C. A. L. Chernicharo ◽  
C. M. M. Campos
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Activity Test ◽  
Inhibitory Compounds ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Soluble Substrate ◽  
Sludge Activity

The success of the newly developed “Specific Methanogenic Activity Test” (SMA-test) in measuring the potential of anaerobic sludge to convert soluble substrate into CH4 and CO2 (James et al., 1990) made this test potentially useful for a variety of investigations. The SMA-test was originally developed for assessment of specific methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge, but the reliability of the method in detecting even very small changes of sludge activity has drawn attention to its use for many different purposes, especially to evaluate the behaviour of anaerobic sludge when subjected to potentially inhibitory compounds. Recent investigations into the potentially inhibitory effects of the Lithium ion on anaerobic sludge were successfully carried out employing the SMA-test. The test proved to be very sensitive for this type of experiment and the results clearly showed a relationship between the degree of inhibition and the concentration of Lithium (Anderson et al., 1991). This paper describes the methodology for measuring the specific methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludges and discusses how the SMA-test can be used for different purposes.

The effect of operational conditions on the sludge specific methanogenic activity and sludge biodegradability

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1847-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Leitão ◽  
S. T. Santaellla ◽  
A. C. van Haandel ◽  
G. Zeeman ◽  
G. Lettinga
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Treatment Unit ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Anaerobic Reactors ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity

The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and influent COD concentration (CODInf) on Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA) and the biodegradability of an anaerobic sludge need to be elucidated because of the discordant results available in literature. This information is important for the operation of anaerobic reactors and design of the sludge post-treatment unit. For this study, sludge samples obtained from eight pilot-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors were tested. The reactors were fed with municipal wastewater and operated with different sets of HRT and influent concentrations until the steady state was established. The results show that at a lower HRT, sludge with relatively higher SMA develops. A slight trend of declining SMA at increasing CODInf was found for reactors operated at longer HRTs; however, further experiments are necessary for more definitive conclusions. The sludge from reactors operated at longer HRTs and with lower CODInf resulted in lower biodegradability. Results also showed that it is ineffective to design a UASB reactor with a longer HRT to cope with organic shock loads.

Influence of incubation conditions on the specific methanogenic activity test

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana F. Souto ◽  
Sérgio F. Aquino ◽  
Silvana Q. Silva ◽  
Carlos A. L. Chernicharo
Keyword(s):  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Activity Test ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity

Influence of Flow Regime on the Concentration of Cyanide Producing Anaerobic Process Inhibition

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Rojas Ch. ◽  
Didier Alazard ◽  
Leonardo Aponte R. ◽  
Luis F. Hidrobo
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Cyanide ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Synthetic Substrate ◽  
Entire Experiment ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Exposure Stage ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket

A study was conducted to analyze the effects of cyanide on methanogenic bacterial populations in both continuous and batch reactors. The appropriate toxicity assays were divided into two parts, i.e. 1) batch assays, and 2) continuous flow assays, using a 6.5-litre up-stream anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB). A synthetic substrate was used as feed for both assays using 99% sucrose as a carbon source, and potassium cyanide (KCN) as a free cyanide source. In the first part, the treatments with the lowest and highest percentages of Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA %) were 3 and 10 mg CN−/l. A 0.96 mg/l concentration of cyanide caused methanogenic activity inhibition by 50% during the exposure stage. During the recovery stage, Methanogenic Activity of treatments had a considerable increase compared to the results from direct cyanide exposure, except for treatments of 7 and 10 mg CN−/l. The concentration of cyanide that inhibits Specific Methanogenic Activity by 50% was 6.1 mg CN−/l during this stage. In the second part, the reactor was continuously fed with a synthetic substrate (COD≈ 1500 mg/l). After the anaerobic sludge became acclimated, cyanide concentrations from 0.5 and 130 mg CN−/l were progressively added. The hydraulic retention time remained constant at 12 hours throughout the entire experiment. Results indicated that while partial inhibition occurred for concentrations of 3, 20 and 100 mg CN−/l, severe inhibition occurred for 130 mg CN−/l.

Effects of high salinity wastewater on methanogenic sludge bed systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 1963-1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Ismail ◽  
P. Gonzalez ◽  
D. Jeison ◽  
J. B. van Lier
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Sodium Concentration ◽  
The Other ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Granule Strength ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Salinity Wastewater

The attainable loading potentials of anaerobic sludge bed systems are strongly dependent on the growth of granular biomass with a particular wastewater. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of high salinity wastewater on the biological and physical properties of methanogenic sludge. Sodium concentration of 5 g/L and 15 g/L were added to the influent of upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) systems. After 100 days of operation, the methanogenic activity, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and granular strength were analyzed. The results show a high removal of organic matter but with accumulating propionate concentrations in the effluents. Meanwhile, wash-out of active methanogenic biomass in the effluent of the reactors was observed, likely as a results of the high Na+ concentrations. The rinsed biomass was characterized by a considerable specific methanogenic activity (SMA) on acetate, propionate and hydrogen as the substrates. On the other hand, results show that the SMA evolution was not affected by high salt concentrations. Also the amount and composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were similar in all sludges. However, results clearly show a sharp drop in the granule strength as a results of high Na+ concentration.

scholarly journals Inhibition and anaerobic biodegradation of benz[a]anthracene-7,12- dione via the specific methanogenic activity test

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
FazelMohammadi Moghadam ◽  
MohammadMehdi Amin ◽  
MehdiHajian Nezhad ◽  
Marzieh Farhadkhani ◽  
Mahnaz Heidari
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Biodegradation ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Activity Test ◽  
Specific Methanogenic Activity

The Use of the SMA-Test for Measuring Toxicity in Anaerobic Sludges

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. M. Campos ◽  
C. A. L. Chernicharo
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Chloride ◽  
Toxic Substance ◽  
Great Sensitivity ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Efficient Tool ◽  
Toxic Compounds ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Inhibitory Compounds

Monitoring of anaerobic sludges exposed to toxic or potentially toxic compounds is important in order to control the efficiency of the sludge when treating toxic wastes. A new methodology developed for measuring specific methanogenic activity (SMA) has shown great sensitivity in detecting inhibition, even when caused by less toxic compounds such as Lithium Chloride. Since the SMA-test is carried out using batch flasks (James et al., 1989), it is able to simulate the continuous exposure of the anaerobic sludge to toxic substances. The test also showed capability in detecting variation of methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludges exposed temporarily to toxic compounds (Anderson et al., 1989). Although Lithium Chloride is considered to be a non-toxic substance (Tomlinson and Chambers, 1979), the SMA-test demonstrated that when anaerobic sludge was exposed continuously to this compound at concentrations of about 250 mgLi+/l, the sludge showed signs of inhibition, whereas for concentration of about 2,000 mgLi+/l the methanogenic activity of the sludge ceased completely. This paper aims at showing how the SMA-test can be used as means of measuring inhibition caused by potentially inhibitory compounds on anaerobic sludge, and at the same time, suggests its standardization as an efficient tool for such purposes.

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