title: Evaluation of UASB reactor performance during start-up operation using synthetic mixed-acid waste.
abstract: A start-up experiment was performed in a laboratory-scale, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor using seed sludge from a domestic waste treatment plant at 3.8-33.3gCODl(-1)day(-1) loading rates. Analysis over the height of the reactor with time showed that the VSS in the reactor was initially differentiated into active and non-active biomass at increasing gas production and upflow velocities, and specific update rates of the volatile fatty acids (VFA) components were pronounced at the bottom 10% of the reactor. During start-up, specific methanogenic activity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) uptake rate increased from 0.075 to 0.75gCOD-CH4(gVSS)(-1)day(-1) and from 0.08 to 0.875gCOD removed (gVSS)(-1)day(-1), respectively. When seed sludge from a distillery waste treatment plant was used, improved performance due to a predominance of active biomass was evident when the loading rate was increased from 9.4 to 28.7gCODl(-1)day(-1). The proposed start-up evaluation is an effective tool to successfully monitor performance of UASB reactors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India. vadlani@ksu.edu
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Vadlani
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000592:standards*; D020148:Butyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014866:Waste Products; D020148:Butyric Acid; D019342:Acetic Acid; D010100:Oxygen