Anaerobic pre-treatment of petrochemical effluents: terephthalic acid wastewater

1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 237-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbert Kleerebezem ◽  
Joost Mortier ◽  
Look W. Hulshoff Pol ◽  
Gatze Lettinga
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Benzoic Acid ◽  
Terephthalic Acid ◽  
Anaerobic Degradation ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Uasb Reactors

During petrochemical production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA, 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid), a large quantity of concentrated effluent is produced. Main polluting compounds in this wastewater are terephthalic acid, acetic acid and benzoic acid in decreasing order of concentration. Acetic acid and benzoic acid are known to be rapidly degraded in high rate anaerobic treatment systems, such as Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) reactors. Concerning the kinetics of anaerobic mineralization of terephthalic acid, however, no information is available in literuature. Therefore our work focused on the anaerobic degradation of neutralized terephthalic acid (disodium terephthalate) in laboratory scale UASB-reactors and batch reactors. It was found that high rate anaerobic treatment of terephthalate was difficult to obtain due to the low growth rate (μ ≈ 0.04 day−1) of the terephthalate mineralizing mixed culture. The maximum removal capacity of a lab-scale UASB-reactor was found to be 3.9 g COD.1−1 .day−1 at a loading rate of 4.5 g COD.1−1 .day−1 and a hydraulic retention time of 24 hours. Terephthalate was used as sole carbon source during these experiments. Addition of small amounts of sucrose (co-substrate) to the influent, as a source of reducing equivalents, was found to have a negative influence on the anaerobic degradation of terephthalate. Also benzoate was found to inhibit the mineralization of terephthalate. Batch-toxicity experiments showed that terephthalate is not toxic to any of the species involved in its mineralization. Based on these observations, a staged anaerobic reactor system is suggested for the anaerobic pre-treatment of PTA-wastewater.

High-Rate Anaerobic Treatment of Industrial Wastewaters

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rintala
Keyword(s):  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Industrial Wastewaters ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Anaerobic mesophilic treatment of synthetic (a mixture of acetate and methanol) and thermomechanical pulping (TMP) wastewater was studied in laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors and filters with emphasis on the process start-up. The reactors were inoculated with nongranular sludge. The start-up of mesophilic and thermophilic processes inoculated with mesophilic granular sludge was investigated in UASB reactors fed with diluted vinasse. The start-up proceeded faster in the filters than in the UASB reactors with TMP and synthetic wastewater. Loading rates of over 15 kgCODm−3d−1 with 50-60 % COD removal efficiencies were achieved in 10 days in the mesophilic and in 50 days in the thermophilic UASB reactor treating vinasse. The results show that high-rate anaerobic treatment can be applied to different types of industrial wastewaters under varying conditions.

Anaerobic digestion of olive oil mill effluents together with swine manure in UASB reactors

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 213-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Angelidaki ◽  
B.K. Ahring ◽  
H. Deng ◽  
J.E. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Swine Manure ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Combined anaerobic digestion of olive oil mill effluent (OME) with swine manure, was investigated. In batch experiments was shown that for anaerobic degradation of OME alone nitrogen addition was needed. A COD:N ratio in the range of 65:1 to 126:1 was necessary for the optimal degradation process. Furthermore, it was found that methane productions rates during digestion of either swine manure alone or OME alone were much lower than the rates achieved when OME and manure were digested together. Admixing OME with manure at a concentration of 5 to 10% OME resulted in the highest methane production rates. Using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, it was shown that codigestion of OME with swine manure (up to 50% OME) was successful with a COD reduction up to 75%. The process was adapted for degradation of OME with stepwise increase of the OME load to the UASB reactor. The results showed that the high content of ammonia in swine manure, together with content of other nutrients, make it possible to degrade OME without addition of external alkalinity and without addition of external nitrogen source. Anaerobic treatment of OME in UASB reactors resulted in reduction of simple phenolic compounds such as mequinol, phenyl ethyl alcohol and ethyl methyl phenol. After anaerobic treatment the concentration of these compounds was reduced between 75 and 100%. However, the concentration of some degradation products such as methyl phenol and ethyl phenol were detected in significantly higher concentrations after treatment, indicating that the process has to be further optimised to achieve satisfactory removal of all xenobiotic compounds.

Thermophilic Anaerobic Treatment of Sulfate-Rich Pulp and Paper Integrate Process Water

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 149-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rintala ◽  
J. L. Sanz Martin ◽  
G. Lettinga
Keyword(s):  
Sulfate Reduction ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Process Water ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Cod Removal Efficiency ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Anaerobic treatment of sulfate - rich (COD/SO4 ratio 1.4-2.1) clarified Whitewater from a thermomechanical pulping (TMP) process was studied in three laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors at 55°C and in batch digesters at 55° and 65°C. Different seed materials were used in the UASB reactors. The highest COD removal efficiency (effluent sulfide stripped) achieved was approximately 65 % in the UASB reactors. About 55 % COD removal efficiency was obtained at a loading rate of about 41 kgCODm−3d−1 in the UASB reactor seeded with thermophilic sludge cultivated with volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The total sulfide present in the liquid phase after anaerobic treatment accounted for approximately 65-78 % and 15-61 % of the removed COD in the batch digesters and the UASB reactors, respectively. Sulfate reduction was almost complete in the batch digesters, whereas about 24-64 % of sulfate was reduced in the UASB reactors. Acetate utilization for sulfate reduction was apparent in the batch digesters, whereas that could not be demonstrated in the UASB reactors. Sulfate reduction in the UASB reactors was obviously substrate limited. In conclusion, thermophilic anaerobic treatment is an alternative for the treatment of warm sulfate rich TMP process water.

scholarly journals Performance of UASB reactors in two stages under different HRT and OLR treating residual waters of swine farming

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estevão Urbinati ◽  
Rose M. Duda ◽  
Roberto A. de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Organic Loading Rate ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
In Series ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Uasb Reactors

In this study it was evaluated the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and Organic Loading Rate (OLR) on the performance of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactors in two stages treating residual waters of swine farming. The system consisted of two UASB reactors in pilot scale, installed in series, with volumes of 908 and 188 L, for the first and second stages (R1 and R2), respectively. The HRT applied in the system of anaerobic treatment in two stages (R1 + R2) was of 19.3, 29.0 and 57.9 h. The OLR applied in the R1 ranged from 5.5 to 40.1 kg CODtotal (m³ d)-1. The average removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) ranged, respectively, from 66.3 to 88.2% and 62.5 to 89.3% in the R1, and from 85.5 to 95.5% and 76.4 to 96.1% in the system (R1 + R2). The volumetric production of methane in the system (R1 + R2) ranged from 0.295 to 0.721 m³CH4 (m³ reactor d)-1. It was found that the OLR applied were not limiting to obtain high efficiencies of CODtotal and TSS removal and methane production. The inclusion of the UASB reactor in the second stage contributed to increase the efficiencies of CODtotal and TSS removal, especially, when the treatment system was submitted to the lowest HRT and the highest OLR.

scholarly journals Up-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Technology for Energy Recovery: A Review on State-of-the-Art and Recent Technological Advances

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matia Mainardis ◽  
Marco Buttazzoni ◽  
Daniele Goi
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Fatty Acid Production ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Biogas Yield ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket

Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor belongs to high-rate systems, able to perform anaerobic reaction at reduced hydraulic retention time, if compared to traditional digesters. In this review, the most recent advances in UASB reactor applications are critically summarized and discussed, with outline on the most critical aspects for further possible future developments. Beside traditional anaerobic treatment of soluble and biodegradable substrates, research is actually focusing on the treatment of refractory and slowly degradable matrices, thanks to an improved understanding of microbial community composition and reactor hydrodynamics, together with utilization of powerful modeling tools. Innovative approaches include the use of UASB reactor for nitrogen removal, as well as for hydrogen and volatile fatty acid production. Co-digestion of complementary substrates available in the same territory is being extensively studied to increase biogas yield and provide smooth continuous operations in a circular economy perspective. Particular importance is being given to decentralized treatment, able to provide electricity and heat to local users with possible integration with other renewable energies. Proper pre-treatment application increases biogas yield, while a successive post-treatment is needed to meet required effluent standards, also from a toxicological perspective. An increased full-scale application of UASB technology is desirable to achieve circular economy and sustainability scopes, with efficient biogas exploitation, fulfilling renewable energy targets and green-house gases emission reduction, in particular in tropical countries, where limited reactor heating is required.

Kinetic evaluation and process performance of an upflow anaerobic filter reactor degrading terephthalic acid

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 2562-2569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orkun I. Davutluoglu ◽  
Galip Seckin
Keyword(s):  
Terephthalic Acid ◽  
Anaerobic Degradation ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Organic Loading Rate ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Reactor Performance ◽  
Kinetic Evaluation ◽  
Anaerobic Filter

The anaerobic degradation of terephthalic acid (TA) as the sole organic carbon source was studied in an upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) reactor. The reactor was seeded with biomass obtained from a full-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor and was used to treat wastewater from a petrochemical facility producing dimethyl terephthalate. The UAF reactor was operated for 252 d with a constant hydraulic retention time of 24 h, and the organic loading rate (OLR) was gradually increased from 1 to 10 g-chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L d. After a lag period of approximately 40 d, the COD removal efficiency increased exponentially and high removal rate values (≈90%) were obtained, except for at highest OLR (10 g-COD/L d). The high removal rates and the robustness of the reactor performance could be attributed to the formation of biofilm as well as granular sludge. The methane production rates (0.22 to 2.15 L/d) correlated well with the removed OLRs (0.3 to 6.8 g-COD/L d) during the various phases of treatment, indicating that the main mechanism of TA degradation occurs via methanogenic reactions. The average methane content of the produced biogas was 70.3%. The modified Stover–Kincannon model was found to be applicable for the anaerobic degradation of TA in UAFs (Umax = 64.5, KB = 69.1 g-COD/L d and Ymax = 0.27 L-CH4/g-CODremoved). These results suggest that UAF reactors are among the most effective reactor configurations for the anaerobic degradation of TA.

Anaerobic bioprocessing of sewage sludge, focusing on degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS)

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Angelidaki ◽  
L. Toräng ◽  
C.M. Waul ◽  
J.E. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Anaerobic Degradation ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Process ◽  
Linear Alkylbenzene ◽  
Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Anaerobic degradation of sludge amended with linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) was tested in a one stage continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a two stage reactor system consisting of a CSTR as first step and upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor as the second step. Anaerobic removal of LAS was only observed at the second step but not at the first step. Removal of LAS in the UASB reactors was approx. 80% where half was due to absorption and the other half was apparently due to biological removal as shown from the LAS mass balance. At the end of the experiment the reactors were spiked with 14C-LAS which resulted in 5.6% 14CO2 in the produced gas. Total mass balance of the radioactivity was however not achieved. In batch experiments it was found that LAS at concentrations higher than 50 mg/l is inhibitory for most microbial groups of the anaerobic process. Therefore, low initial LAS concentration is a prerequisite for successful LAS degradation. The results from the present study suggest that anaerobic degradation of LAS is possible in UASB reactors when the concentration of LAS is low enough to avoid inhibition of microorganisms active in the anaerobic process.

Inhibition of methanogenic activity of starch-degrading granules by aromatic pollutants

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 247-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert H. P. Fang ◽  
Ivan W. C. Lau ◽  
Denis W. C. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Aromatic Pollutants ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Phenolic Pollutants ◽  
Ic50 Values

The effects of nine common aromatic pollutants from chemical industry on the bioactivity of anaerobic granules were examined. The granules were obtained from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating wastewater containing colloidal starch. The specific methanogenic activities (SMA) of granules were measured at 37°C in serum vials using 3000 mg/l of colloidal starch as substrate, plus individual pollutants at various concentrations. The toxicity was expressed by the IR50 and IC50 values, i.e. the toxicant/biomass ratio and concentration at which levels the granules exhibited only 50% of their original bioactivities. Results showed that in general the granules exhibited mild resistance to toxicity of aromatic pollutants, probably due to the granules' layered microstructure. The toxicities, which were dependent on the nature of chemical functional group, of the aromatic pollutants were in the following descending order: cresols > phenol > hydroxyphenols/phthalate > benzoate. There was only marginal difference between the toxicity of the steric isomers. For the seven phenolic pollutants, the more hydrophobic the functional group the higher the toxicity. The granules' resistance to toxicity suggested the plausibility of anaerobic treatment of wastewater from the chemical industry.

Application of the UASB-Reactor for Anaerobic Treatment of Paper and Board Mill Effluent

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
L H A Habets ◽  
J H Knelissen
Keyword(s):  
Waste Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Seed Sludge ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Within the holding of Bührmann-Tetterode NV, 7 Dutch paper and board mills are operating, all of them using mainly waste paper as raw material. While three of them completely closed their watercircuits, two other mills put into practice biological waste water treatment namely anaerobic and anaerobic/aerobic. Number 6 is realising an anaerobic plant this year and for number 7 research is still being carried out, dealing with several unfavourable aspects. In September 1981 research for anaerobic treatment (UASB reactors) was started. After good results had been achieved on laboratory scale (301), further investigations were started on semitechnical scale (50 m3). In both cases the anaerobic seed sludge granulated after a while and loadings up to 20 kg COD/m3.d could be handled. COD-removal was 70 per cent, even when the hydraulic retention time was only 2.5 hours. In April 1983 a 70 m3 practical scale UASB reactor was started up at the solid board mill of Ceres. In October 1983 a full scale plant was started up at Papierfabriek Roermond. This plant consists of a 1,000 m3 UASB reactor and a 70 m3 gasholder. It has been designed and constructed by Paques BV and is used for pretreatment of effluent, in order to reduce the loading of the activated sludge plant. Besides energy savings on the oxygen input, about 1 million m3/year of biogas is being generated and is used for steamproduction. Both plants are working satisfactorily. Investment costs appeared to be relatively low. At Ceres, pay-out time is 1.5 year, while at Papierfabriek Roermond waste water treatment is cheaper than before, although capacity is doubled.

Anaerobic digestion for sustainable development: a natural approach

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 321-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.J. Gijzen
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Wastewater ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Anaerobic Reactors ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Pre Treatment

After the discovery of methane gas by Alessandro Volta in 1776, it took about 100 years before anaerobic processes for the treatment of wastewater and sludges were introduced. The development of high rate anaerobic digesters for the treatment of sewage and industrial wastewater took until the nineteen-seventies and for solid waste even till the nineteen-eighties. All digesters have in common that they apply natural anaerobic consortia of microorganisms for degradation and transformation processes. In view of this, it could be rewarding to evaluate the efficiency of natural ecosystems for their possible application. Examples of high rate anaerobic natural systems include the forestomach of ruminants and the hindgut of certain insects, such as termites and cockroaches. These “natural reactors” exhibit volumetric methane production rates as high as 35 l/l.d. The development of anaerobic reactors based on such natural anaerobic systems could produce eco-technologies for the effective management of a wide variety of solid wastes and industrial wastewater. Important limitations of anaerobic treatment of domestic sewage relate to the absence of nutrient and pathogen removal. A combination of anaerobic pre-treatment followed by photosynthetic post-treatment is proposed for the effective recovery of energy and nutrients from sewage. This eco-technology approach is based on the recognition that the main nutrient assimilating capacity is housed in photosynthetic plants. The proposed anaerobic-photosynthetic process is energy efficient, cost effective and applicable under a wide variety of rural and urban conditions. In conclusion: a natural systems approach towards waste management could generate affordable eco-technologies for effective treatment and resource recovery.

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