Investigation of soluble microbial products in a full-scale UASB reactor running at low organic loading rate

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 100; no. 14; pp. 3471 - 3476
• Main Authors: Zhou, Weili, Wu, Bingtao, She, Qianhong, Chi, Lina, Zhang, Zhenjia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2009; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaerobic; Applied sciences; Bacteria, Anaerobic - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; DNA - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Facility Design and Construction; Filtration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; Industrial wastewater; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Models, Theoretical; Organic loading rate; Pollution; Polysaccharides - analysis; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage - microbiology; Soluble microbial products; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Management; Wastewaters; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution; Industrial wastewater; Organic loading rate; Soluble microbial products; Anaerobic; Anaerobe; Organic loading; Industrial waste water; Solubility; Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor; Microorganism
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.03.006
• ISSN: 0960-8524

Investigation on a full-scale UASB treating industrial wastewater at a low organic loading rate (OLR) was conducted. Excellent treatment performance was achieved when treating the evaporator condensate of distillery wastewater at the OLR of less than 1 kg COD/m 3 d. Anaerobic effluent could be discharged without further treatment, which saved energy and running cost considerably. GC–MS analysis showed that the soluble microbial products (SMPs) were decreased to a low level at the low OLR. The main SMP in the anaerobic effluent were long chain carbohydrates and esters, accounting for 55–65% of the total organic matters. Anaerobic SMP was more complex than the aerobic ones. Soluble COD, protein and polysaccharide showed an obvious decrease at the sludge layer from 10 to 15 m despite the low MLSS/MLVSS content. Methanogens were found to be predominant in this layer, which indicated that the methanogens might be the main consumers of the SMP in anaerobic reactors. Economic comparison confirmed that the anaerobic treatment at low OLR could be a good option.