Anaerobic batch wastewater treatment with immobilized biomass and external circulation of the liquid phase

Author(s)

Eduardo Freitas Moraes de Camargo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2000-10-25

Examining board members

Marcelo Zaiat; José Roberto Campos; Carlos Osamu Hokka

• Advisor: Marcelo Zaiat

Abstract

A new configuration of an anaerobic bioreactor with external circulation of the liquid phase wherein the biomass was immobilized on a polyurethane foam matrix is proposed. 8-hours cycles were cartied out at a temperature of 30 ± 1°C treating glucose synthetic wastewater at a concentration around 500 mg/L. A hydrodynamic study performed at 0.16 to 0.80 cm/s showed that the obtained mixture time is insignificant compared to the total cycles time, and the flow through the polyurethane foam bed can be represented by a plug flow. The reactor\'s performance assessed without circulation and with circulating liquid superficial velocity between 0.03 and 0.30 cm/s. The reactor attained operating stability and a COD removal efficiency of 96% was achieved. The increase in the liquid superficial velocity decreases the liquid resistance mass transfer, resulting in an increase of 115% in the global reaction velocity, estimated through the fit of a first model equation on the substrate concentration experimental values. (AU)