title: Sequential operation of a hybrid anaerobic reactor using a lignocellulosic biomass as biofilm support.
abstract: Agro-industries are facing many economic and environmental problems associated with seasonal generation of liquid and solid waste. In order to reduce treatment costs and to cope with seasonal variation, we have developed a hybrid anaerobic reactor operated sequentially by using lignocellulosic biomass (LB) as biofilm carrier support. Six LBs were tested to evaluate the treatment performance during a succession of two start-up periods, separated by a non-feeding period. After a short acclimation phase of several days, all the reactors succeeded in starting-up in less than 1month to reach an organic loading rate of 25gCODL(-1)d(-1). In addition, they restarted-up successfully in only 15days after a 3month non-feeding period, indicating that biofilms conserved their biological activities during this last phase. As a consequence, the use of LB as a biofilm support gives the potential to sustain seasonal variations of wastewater loads for industrial application.
authors.affiliation: University of Carthage, Water Research and Technologies Centre (CERTE), Wastewater Treatment Laboratory, Tunisia; INRA, UR50, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR50, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Habouzit
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR50, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernet
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR50, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Steyer
authors.affiliation: University of Carthage, Water Research and Technologies Centre (CERTE), Wastewater Treatment Laboratory, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Naceur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jedidi
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR50, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France. Electronic address: escudie@supagro.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Escudié
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biofilm; Hybrid reactor; Lignocellulosic biomass; Start-up