Hydrogen utilization rate: A crucial indicator for anaerobic digestion process evaluation and monitoring.
Hydrogenotrophic methanogens had been considered as key species for the anaerobic digestion (AD) of industrial wastewater and municipal sludge. However, how to evaluate the activity of the hydrogenotrophic methanogens was less studied. In this study, a volumetric device and a test procedure were developed for measuring the specific hydrogen utilization rate (HUR) of anaerobic sludge. Results showed that HUR values were highly influenced by sludge concentrations because of limitation on H2 mass transfer. The critical value of sludge concentration in the test bottle should not be higher than 1 gVSS/L. Under such condition, the kinetics of HUR would not be limited by H2 mass transfer and the maximal value of HUR could be obtained. Field survey confirmed that HUR exhibits a good relationship with specific methanogenic activity (SMA) and reactor performance. An anaerobic system with a relatively high HUR was found to be beneficial for maintaining H2 partial pressure in an appropriately low level. Moreover, such system was thermodynamically favourable for the syntrophic degradation of volatile fatty acids. As a crucial parameter of the anaerobic process, HUR could be used as a key indicator for evaluating and monitoring AD processes.
Department of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China. Electronic address: houyinpingxx@163.com.
Yin-ping
YP
Hou
Department of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
Dang-cong
DC
Peng
Shaanxi Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, No. 49 Chang'an Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710061, PR China.
Xu-dong
XD
Xue
Department of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
Hong-ye
HY
Wang
Department of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
Li-ying
LY
Pei
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*
D002087:Butyrates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D011422:Propionates; D012722:Sewage; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane
Anaerobic digestion; H(2) partial pressure; Hydrogen utilization rate; Hydrogenotrophic methanogens; Specific methanogenic activity