Comparative performance of anaerobic filters at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures

249 Pages·2016·2.82 MB·English

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations
1992
Comparative performance of anaerobic filters at
mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures
William Lee Harris
Iowa State University
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Recommended Citation
Harris, William Lee, "Comparative performance of anaerobic filters at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures " (1992).
Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 10577.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/10577
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Comparative performance of anaerobic filters at mesophilic and
thermophilic temperatures
Harris, William Lee, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1992
Copyright ©1992 by Harris, William Lee. All rights reserved.
300 N. ZeebRd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Comparative performance of anaerobic filters at mesophilic
and thermophilic temperatures
by
William Lee Harris
A Dissertation Submitted to the
Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department: Civil and Construction Engineering
Major: Civil Engineering
(Environmental Engineering)
Approved:
Members of the Committee:
Signature was redacted for privacy.
In Charge of Major Work
Signature was redacted for privacy.
For the Major Department
Signature was redacted for privacy.
Signature was redacted for privacy.
For the Graduate College
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
1992
Copyright© William Lee Harris, 1992. All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
To Jana, Eric and Kyle
Thank you for your patience.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEDICATION ii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xii
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF STUDY 4
III. LITERATURE REVIEW 6
The Fundamentals of Anaerobic Digestion 6
History of Anaerobic Treatment 22
Anaerobic Fixed-Film Systems 34
Thermophilic Anaerobic Treatment 44
Two-Phase Anaerobic Treatment Systems 59
IV. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH 68
Reactor Construction 68
Media 76
Temperature Control 77
Feed System 78
Gas Measurement System 80
Substrate 80
Experimental Set-up 84
Phase I experimental set-up 84
Phase II experimental set-up 89
Loading Rates 91
Phase I 91
Phase II 93
Temperature of Operation 94
Sampling and Analysis 94
Sample collection 94
Analytical methods 95
a. Chemical oxygen demand 95
b. Volatile fatty acids 97
c. Gas analysis 97
d. Solids analysis 99
e. pH 101
f. Ammonia 101
g. Alkalinity 103
V. START-UP 104
Phase I 104
Phase II 105
iv
VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 106
Phase I 106
Data analysis 106
COD removal 106
COD vs HRT results 119
Ammonia and volatile acids 136
Methane production 145
Phase II 152
Set-up 152
Operation 152
Results 153
Ammonia and volatile acids 157
Methane production 163
VII. ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE 178
Phase I 178
Phase II 180
VIII. CONCLUSIONS 182
Phase I 182
Phase II 183
IX. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 184
BIBLIOGRAPHY 185
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 196
APPENDIX A. Methane Production Data 197
APPENDIX B. Ammonia Production Data 219
APPENDIX C. Volatile Acids Data 221
APPENDIX D. Solids Data 226