Dispersed plug flow model for upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactors with focus on granular sludge dynamics

A new approach to model upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB)-reactors, referred to as a one-dimensional dispersed plug flow model, was developed. This model focusses on the granular sludge dynamics along the reactor height, based on the balance between dispersion, sedimentation and convection using one-dimensional (with regard to reactor height) equations. A universal description of both the fluid hydrodynamics and granular sludge dynamics was elaborated by applying known physical laws and empirical relations derived from experimental observations. In addition, the developed model includes: (1) multiple-reaction stoichiometry, (2) microbial growth kinetics, (3) equilibrium chemistry in the liquid phase, (4) major solid-liquid-gas interactions, and (5) material balances for dissolved and solid components along the reactor height. The integrated model has been validated with a set of experimental data on the start-up, operation performance, sludge dynamics, and solute intermediate concentration profiles of a UASB reactor treating cheese whey [Yan et al. (1989) Biol Wastes 27:289¿305; Yan et al. (1993) Biotechnol Bioeng 41:700¿706]. A sensitivity analysis of the model, performed with regard to the seed sludge characteristics and the key model parameters, showed that the output of the dispersed plug flow model was most influenced by the sludge settleability characteristics and the growth properties (especially ¿m) of both protein-degrading bacteria and acetotrophic methanogen

POSSIBLE WAYS FOR POST‐TREATMENT OF BIOLOGICALLY TREATED WASTEWATER FROM YEAST FACTORY/GALIMI PAPILDOMI MIELIŲ GAMYKLOS BIOLOGIŠKAI VALYTŲ NUOTEKŲ VALYMO BŪDAI/ВОЗМОЖНЫЕ ПУТИ ДООЧИСТКИ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИ ОЧИЩЕННЫХ СТОЧНЫХ ВОД ДРОЖЖЕВОГО ЗАВОДА

The effluents, which are formed from the waste in the process of production of yeast and molasses, contain a large amount of colouring substances (melanoidins, etc.) and can give dark brown painting to the effluent leading to high organic load on the wastewater treatment plant. The purpose of this study was estimation of the process of coagulation as possible method for the post‐treatment of effluents of yeast industry. The experiments on the coagulation were carried out using biologically purified effluents of Salutaguse yeast factory. This effluent had relatively high residual content of COD (with the effectiveness of treatment — 90%) and brown colour. Different coagulants and flocculants were studied under laboratory conditions. The most effective coagulants FeCl3˙6H2O and Al2 (SO4) 3 were studied additionally. The results of this experiment showed a significant decrease of colour and also concentration of COD. Economic analysis for the possible application of coagulants and ozone for the post‐treated effluents of yeast factory was also made. The obtained data showed that coagulants and ozone could be used in the process of the post‐treatment of effluents of yeast industry for the purpose of decreasing the colour and general concentration of pollutants, however, these processes are very expensive. Santrauka Nuotekų, susidarančių pramoniniuose procesuose naudojant mieles bei melasą, sudėtyje esti dideli kiekiai dažančių medžiagų (melanoidų). Jie nuotekas nudažo tamsiai rudai, o valymo įrenginiams tenka didelės organinių medžiagų apkrovos. Tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti koaguliacijos procesą kaip galimą papildomą mielių pramonės nuotekų valymo metodą. Koaguliacijos eksperimentams buvo naudojamos biologiškai valytos Salutaguso mielių gamyklos nuotekos. Nustatyta didelė šių nuotekų liekamoji organinių medžiagų vertė (valymo efektyvumui esant 90 %), nuotekos buvo rudos. Laboratorinėmis sąlygomis ištirta įvairūs koaguliantai ir flokuliantai. Efektyviausieji koaguliantai – FeCl3 · 6H2O ir Al2 (SO4 )3 buvo išanalizuoti papildomai. Eksperimento rezultatai – žymiai pašviesėjo nuotekų spalva, sumažėjo organinių medžiagų koncentracija. Atlikta ekonominė analizė, įvertinta koaguliantų ir ozono taikymas biologiškai išvalytoms mielių gamyklos nuotekoms valyti papildomai, kad pašviesėtų nuotekų spalva, ir suminė organinių medžiagų koncentracija būtų mažesnė. Šie procesai yra itin brangūs. Резюме Сточные воды, образующиеся от использования в процессе производства дрожжей мелассы, содержат большое количество красящих веществ (меланоидинов), которые придают сточной воде темно-коричневую окраску и приводят к высокой органической нагрузке на очистные сооружения. Целью исследования была оценка процесса коагулирования как возможного метода доочистки сточных вод дрожжевой промышленности. В экспериментах по коагулированию была использована биологически очищенная сточная вода Салутагуского завода по производству дрожжей. Сток имел относительно высокое остаточное содержание органических веществ (при эффективной очистке в 90%) и коричневый цвет. Различные коагулянты и флокулянты были изучены в лабораторных условиях. Наиболее эффективные коагулянты FeCl3 ·6H2O и Al2 (SO4 )3 были изучены дополнительно. В результате эксперимента удалось добиться значительного уменьшения интенсивности цвета и концентрации органических веществ. Был произведен экономический анализ с целью возможного применения коагулянтов и озона для процесса доочистки биологически очищенных стоков завода по производству дрожжей. Коагулянты и озон можно использовать в процессе доочистки стоков биологически очищенных вод дрожжевой промышленности для уменьшения цветности и общей концентрации органических веществ. Эти процессы, однако, очень дороги. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: koaguliacija, spalva, ozonavimas, papildomas valymas, mielių pramonės nuotekos. Ключевые слова: коагуляция, цвет, озонирование, дополнительная очистка, сточные воды дрожжевой промышленности

A simplified analysis of granule behavior in ASBR and UASB reactors treating low-strength synthetic wastewater

This work presents an analysis of the changes observed in granule characteristics of sludge in the treatment of synthetic wastewater at a concentration of about 500 mgCOD/L in batch, fed-batch (ASBR) and continuous (UASB) bench-scale reactors under similar experimental conditions. Physical and microbiological properties of the granules were characterized as average particle size and sedimentation time and by optical and epifluorescence microscopy. Several samples were analyzed in order to identify the morphologies. Granules from sequencing batch and fed-batch reactors, either with or without mechanical mixing, did not undergo any physical or microbiological changes. However, during the experiment granules from the UASB reactor agglomerated due to the formation and accumulation of a viscous material, probably of microbial origin, when operated at low superficial velocities (0.072, 0.10 and 0.19 m/h). When the superficial velocity was increased to 8.0-10.0 m/h by means of liquid-phase recirculation, the granules from the UASB reactor underwent flocculation and the microbiological characteristics changed in such a way that the equilibrium of microbial diversity in the inoculum was not maintained. As a result, the only reactor that maintained efficiency and good solids retention during the assays was the ASBR, showing that there is a correlation between maintenance of microbial diversity and operating mode in the case of anaerobic treatment of low-strength wastewaters