title: Electrical conductivity as a state indicator for the start-up period of anaerobic fixed-bed reactors.
abstract: The aim of this work was to analyse the applicability of electrical conductivity sensors for on-line monitoring the start-up period of an anaerobic fixed-bed reactor. The evolution of bicarbonate concentration and methane production rate was analysed. Strong linear relationships between electrical conductivity and both bicarbonate concentration and methane production rate were observed. On-line estimations of the studied parameters were carried out in a new start-up period by applying simple linear regression models, which resulted in a good concordance between both observed and predicted values. Electrical conductivity sensors were therefore identified as an interesting method for monitoring the start-up period of anaerobic fixed-bed reactors due to its reliability, robustness, easy operation, low cost, and minimum maintenance compared with the currently used sensors.
authors.affiliation: IIAMA, Institut Universitari d'Investigació d'Enginyeria de l'Aigua i Medi Ambient, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain E-mail: ngerobma@upv.es; INRA, UR0050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR0050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Latrille
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Química, EscolaTècnica Superior d'Enginyeria, Universitat de València, Avinguda de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribes
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR0050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernet
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR0050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Steyer
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000502:physiology*; D019149:Bioreactors; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical