title: Anaerobic membrane reactor with phase separation for the treatment of cheese whey.
abstract: Two-phase anaerobic digestion of cheese whey was investigated in a system consisting of a stirred acidogenic reactor followed by a stirred methanogenic reactor, the latter being coupled to a membrane filtration system to enable removal of soluble effluent whilst retaining solids. The acidogenic reactor was operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of one day, giving maximum acidification of 52.25% with up to 5 g/l volatile fatty acids, of which 63.7% was acetic acid and 24.7% was propionic acid. The methanogenic reactor received an organic load up to 19.78 g COD/ld, corresponding to a HRT of 4 days, at which 79% CODs and 83% BOD(5) removal efficiencies were obtained. Average removals of COD, BOD(5) and TSS in the two-phase anaerobic digestion process were 98.5%, 99% and 100%, respectively. The daily biogas production exceeded 10 times reactor volume and biogas methane content was greater than 70%.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Bio-procédés, Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax, BP: K, Sfax 3038, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ahlem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saddoud
authors.forename: Ilem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassaïri
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayadi
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002611:Cheese; D005374:Filtration; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008566:Membranes; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D018505:Waste Management / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D008697:Methane