Anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater sludges using anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactor

Nizar Mustafa, Elsayed Elbeshbishy, George Nakhla, Jesse Zhu

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The anaerobic digestion of primary sludge (PS) and thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) using an anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactor (AnFBR) employing zeolite particles as the carrier media was investigated at different organic loading rates (OLRs). PS was tested at OLRs from 4.2 to 39kgCOD/m3-d corresponding to hydraulic retention times (HRTs) from 1.0 to 8.9days. The highest COD removal and VSS destruction efficiencies for primary sludge of 85% and 88%, respectively, were achieved at an HRT of 8.9days and OLR of 4.2kgCOD/m3-d. For TWAS, VSS destruction efficiencies varied from 42% at an HRT of 2.6days and OLR of 13.1kgCOD/m3-d to 69% at an HRT of 8.8days and an OLR of 4.2kgCOD/m3-d. The first-order COD biodegradation rates in the AnFBR for PS and TWAS were 0.4d-1 and 0.1d-1, respectively, almost double the rates in conventional high-rate digesters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)461-466
Number of pages6
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume172
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Fluidized bed bioreactor
  • Primary sludge
  • TWAS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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