title: Influence of a three-phase separator configuration on the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor treating wastewater from a fruit-canning factory.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a three-phase separator configuration on the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (USAB) treating wastewater from a fruit canning factory. The performances of two 30-L UASB reactors--one with a modified three-phase separator giving a spiral flow pattern and the other with a conventional configuration-were investigated in parallel. Wastewater, with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration between 2000 and 7000 mg/L, was obtained from a fruit-canning factory. Based on the effluent data of the first 100 operation days, the UASB with the three-phase separator giving spiral flow patterns yielded up to 25% lower biomass washout. It also showed better efficiencies in treating wastewater--up to 60% lower effluent COD, up to 20% higher COD percent removal, and up to 29% higher biogas production. This work presents evidence of an improvement on the conventional physical design of a UASB.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Rachbordin
authors: R
authors: Wongnoi
authors: Warinthorn
authors: W
authors: Songkasiri
authors: Chantaraporn
authors: C
authors: Phalakornkule
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D005638:Fruit; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size; D011312:Pressure; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D007220:Industrial Waste