Parawira W., Murto M., Zvauya R., Mattiasson B.
Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Parawira, W., Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Murto, M., Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; Zvauya, R., Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mattiasson, B., Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
The results presented in this paper are from studies on a laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and an anaerobic packed-bed (APB) reactor treating potato leachate at increasing organic loading rates from 1.5 to 7.0 g COD/1/day. The hydraulic retention times ranged from 13.2 to 2.8 days for both reactors during the 100 days of the experiment. The maximum organic loading rates possible in the laboratory-scale UASB and APB reactors for stable operation were approximately 6.1 and 4.7 g COD/l day, respectively. The COD removal efficiencies of both reactors were greater than 90% based on the total COD of the effluent. The methane yield increased with increasing organic loading rate up to 0.23 l CH4/g CODdegraded in the UASB reactor and 0.161 CH4/g CODdegraded in the APB reactor. The UASB could be run at a higher organic loading rate than the APB reactor and achieved a higher methane yield. Signs of reactor instability were decreasing partial alkalinity and pH and increasing amounts of volatile fatty acids. The study demonstrated the suitability of the UASB and a packed-bed reactor for treating leachate from potato waste. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Alkalinity; Anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Effluent treatment; Hydraulics; Leachate treatment; Methane; Packed beds; pH effects; Anaerobic packed-bed; Methane yield; Potato waste; UASB; Chemical reactors; biogas; waste treatment; Alkalinity; Biogas; Chemical Reactors; Effluent Treatment; Hydraulics; Leaching; Methane; Solanum tuberosum