Enhancement of granulation and start-up in the anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

419 Pages·2016·6.94 MB·English

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations
1994
Enhancement of granulation and start-up in the
anaerobic sequencing batch reactor
Randall Anthony Wirtz
Iowa State University
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Recommended Citation
Wirtz, Randall Anthony, "Enhancement of granulation and start-up in the anaerobic sequencing batch reactor " (1994).Retrospective
Theses and Dissertations. 10523.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/10523
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Enhancement of granulation and start-up in the anaerobic
sequencing batch reactor
Wirtz, Randall Anthony, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1994
U M I
300 N. ZeebRd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Enhancement of granulation and start-up in the
anaerobic sequencing batch reactor
by
Randall Anthony Wirtz
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)
Signature was redacted for privacy.
Signature was redacted for privacy.
For the Mijor Department
Signature was redacted for privacy.
For the Graduate College
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
1994
ii
To Kalla Kaye: thank you for your love, support,
encouragement, and patience.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES xii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xx
INTRODUCTION 1
Background I
Objectives and Scope 3
LITERATURE REVIEW 6
Origins of Life 6
Historical Perspectives of Anaerobic Bacteria 7
The Anaerobic Bacteria 10
Anaerobes and Oxygen 11
Physiology of Anaerobes 14
Hydrolytic/Fermentative Bacteria 17
Acetogenic Bacteria 20
Acetogenic Dehydrogenations 21
Acetogenic Hydrogenations 23
Methanogenic Bacteria 25
General Background 25
Biochemistry of Methanogens 28
Interplay among the Anaerobic Bacteria 41
Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment 44
Anaerobic versus Aerobic Treatment 44
Environmental/Operational Parameters in Anaerobic Treatment 46
Environmental Parameters 47
Operational Parameters 54
Early Research 58
High-Rate Anaerobic Treatment 60
The Anaerobic Contact Process 60
The Anaerobic Filter 61
The Hybrid Anaerobic Filter 64
The Expanded-Bed Anaerobic Reactor 65
iv
The Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor 68
The Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor 70
The Phenomenon of Granulation 81
Theory of Bacterial Adhesion and Aggregation 81
General Characteristics of Granules in Anaerobic Systems 83
Granulation in the ASBR 85
First Report of Granulation 85
Further Studies with Granular Biomass in the ASBR 87
Granulation in the UASB and Expanded-Bed Processes 89
Granule Microbiology and Morphology 90
Granule Chemical Composition 95
Activity of Granular Biomass 97
Modeling the Granulation Process 100
Effect of Substrate and Temperature 104
Effect of Chemical Enhancement 106
Effect of Physical Enhancement 113
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP 115
Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor Design 115
Gas/Foam Separation System 118
Biogas Recirculation System 119
Biogas Collection and Measurement System 121
Substrate Feed and Effluent Decant Systems 123
Coagulant Feed System 124
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 125
Substrate Feed Preparation 125
Biological Seeding of the ASBR 130
ASBR Start-up and Operation 132
ASBR Mixing 135
Granulation Enhancement 136
Attachment Matrices 136
Coagulant Addition 138
EXPERIMENTAL TESTING 141
Chemical Oxygen Demand 142
Volatile Fatty Acids 145
Effluent Suspended Solids 147
Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids 149
Hydrogen Ion Concentration 151
Alkalinity 151
V
Ammonia Concentration 153
Biogas Production and Composition 155
Automated Image Analysis 159
Specific Methanogenic Activity 160
Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy 163
Elemental Analysis of Biomass 164
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 166
Sucrose Experiments 167
Control Study 167
Operational Performance 168
Solids and Granulation 170
Powdered Activated Carbon Enhancement Study 175
Operational Performance 175
Solids and Granulation 179
PAC Effect 181
Granular Activated Carbon Enhancement Study 181
Operational Performance 182
Solids and Granulation 185
GAC Effect 185
Garnet Enhancement Study " 187
Operational Performance 187
Solids and Granulation 191
Garnet Effect 193
Silica Sand Enhancement Study 193
Cationic Polymer Enhancement Smdy 194
Operational Performance 198
Solids and Granulation 202
Cationic Polymer Effect 203
PolyDADM Enhancement Study 206
Operational Performance 206
Solids and Granulation 210
PolyDADM Effect 212
Ferric Chloride Enhancement Study 213
Operational Performance 213
Solids and Granulation 215
Ferric Chloride Effect 218
Beef/Glucose Experiments 218
Control Study 219
Operational Performance 219
Solids and Granulation 221