Modeling simultaneous removal of primary substrates and chlorinated phenols in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors

Abstract

A dynamic model describing the simultaneous degradation of easily degradable substrates (sucrose and acetic acid (HAc)) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors was developed. The two critical factors considered in the model development were sorption and substrate interaction during degradation. Data obtained from experiments on the multiple substrate degradation in continuous UASB reactors were used to validate and verify the dynamic model. The model predicts the system responses for 2,4-DCP, 4-monochlorophenol (4-MCP), HAc, propionic acid (HPr), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration in the effluent. The modeling results indicated that the degradation rates for 2,4-DCP and for cosubstrates, HAc and HPr, changed inversely as a function of the specific organic loading rate for UASB reactors.Key words: dynamic, modeling, UASB, 2,4-dichlorophenol, sorption, degradation, co-metablism.