Start-up of fixed carrier anaerobic reactor treatment to molasses wastewater

Abstract:

To efficiently treat high concentration organic wastewater, we designed fixed carrier anaerobic reactor R1 and R2. They are improvement of anaerobic baffle reactor (ABR). Its baffles were made from active carbon fiber, quick start-up of R1 and R2 is proceeded to treat molasses wastewater in a laboratory-scale. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) are important technical parameters which affect stable efficient operation and start-up of reactor. The results indicated when HRT is 2 d, reactors show the optimum operation. In the operation of 30 d, COD removal efficiency of R1 could reach the 84.88%, R2 could reach 81.72%. Biogas production rate increased from 0.35 L/(L·d) to 4.98 L/(L·d), with influent organic loading rate (OLR) raised from 1.25 kg/(m3·d) to 10 kg/(m3·d). In the two reactors, the pH value of effluent wastewater was between 6.7 to 7.6 and the pH value of influent wastewater was between 3.9 to 4.5. During the whole experimental period, the pH value of influent wastewater was not adjusted, which proved two reactors have strong ability to resist acid. The pH value of R1 fluctuated more gently. The reactors with less sludge losing and no clogging phenomenon showed the strong ability to treat acidic high concentration organic wastewater and to resist high shock loading during the whole running processes.