Effects of mixing on anaerobic treatment of potato-processing wastewater

Abstract

Four laboratory-scale reactors were used to study the effects of mixing intensity and mixing duration on the anaerobic treatment of potato-processing wastewater at 20 °C. The mixing intensities were set at impeller speeds of 0, 20, 50, and 100 rpm. Two mixing durations were studied: 45 and 15 min/h. It was found that both mixing intensities and mixing durations studied and their joint effect significantly affected the steady-state performance of the anaerobic reactors in treating the potato-processing wastewater with respect to organics and solids removals and methane production. Key words: mixing effects, anaerobic treatment, potato-processing wastewater, organics and solids removal, methane production.