Effects of temperature and organic loading on the performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors

Abstract

A study investigating the effects of temperature and organic loading on the performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors was carried out in the laboratory. Laboratory-scale reactors of 3.2 L volume were semicontinuously fed a synthetic substrate consisting of beef consommé and macro- and micro-nutrient compounds. Temperatures ranged from 10 to 42 °C; organic loadings ranged from 2.0 to 30 kg COD/(m3∙d). Steady-state process kinetics and efficiencies were evaluated for the various conditions. Based on the assumption that upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor kinetics in the temperature range of 10–30 °C could be approximated by Monod and modified Arrhenius equation relationships, effluent SCOD concentrations and removals were used to determine the maximum rate of substrate utilization, the half-velocity constant, and the temperature coefficient. A design and operating chart was constructed based on the kinetic coefficients determined from the experimental data. Key words: upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, temperature, loading, performance, kinetics.