Continuous H2 production by anaerobic mixed microflora in membrane bioreactor.

The characteristics of H(2) production by anaerobic mixed microflora in a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) were investigated. For comparative purposes, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) was operated in parallel under the same conditions. The experimental results showed that 35-day stable and continuous H(2) fermentation was successfully achieved, the MBR revealing an H(2) content of 51% and the CSTR, 58%. No methane gas was detected during the experiments for the long solids retention time (SRT) of 90 days. The MBR's H(2) production rate was 2.43-2.56 l H(2) l(-1)d(-1), which was about 2.6 times higher than that (0.95-0.97 l H(2) l(-1)d(-1)) of the CSTR, reflecting the MBR's higher H(2) productivity.

CFD simulation of mixing in anaerobic digesters.

A three-dimensional CFD model incorporating the rheological properties of sludge was developed and applied to quantify mixing in a full-scale anaerobic digester. The results of the model were found to be in good agreement with experimental tracer response curve. In order to predict the dynamics of mixing, a new parameter, UI (uniformity index) was defined. The visual patterns of tracer mixing in simulation were well reflected in the dynamic variation in the value of UI. The developed model and methods were applied to determine the required time for complete mixing in a full-scale digester at different solid concentrations. This information on mixing time is considered to be useful in optimizing the feeding cycles for better digester performance.

Characteristics of anaerobic ammonia removal by a mixed culture of hydrogen producing photosynthetic bacteria.

It is known that the presence of ammonia inhibits hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria. In order to avoid it, a two-step process containing ammonia removal and hydrogen production was investigated in this study. Firstly, the effects of carbonate presence on ammonia removal by photosynthetic bacteria were investigated by the vial tests because it is known that the uptake of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) sometimes requires carbonate. The results of them showed that the presence of carbonate promoted the uptake of VFAs and ammonia. Especially, the uptake of propionate and/or butyrate required the presence of carbonate. The results of the batch experiments of two-step hydrogen production showed that the depletion of ammonia triggered hydrogen evolution. Herein, the presence of albumin did not inhibit hydrogen evolution and preferably it increased the hydrogen production rate. And the VFA-C/NH4-N ratio in substrate fed into two-step hydrogen production process should be more than 6.0.

Wet oxidation pretreatment for the increase in anaerobic biodegradability of newspaper waste.

Wet oxidation was investigated for its process performance on methane fermentation of newspaper waste. The mechanisms of solubilization of newspaper waste were investigated using the following criteria: destruction of total COD (TCOD), production of soluble COD (SCOD), production of volatile fatty acids, production of soluble carbohydrates, production of soluble lignin derivatives (SLD), production of furan (F) and destruction of lignin and cellulose. Wet oxidation was carried out at 170, 190, and 210 degrees C, with a retention time of 1 h. The highest removal efficiencies of TCOD and cellulose were achieved at 210 degrees C, approximately 40% and 69% were destroyed, respectively. On the other hand, highest lignin removal efficiency was achieved at 190 degrees C in which approximately 65% was removed. Batch methane fermentation tests were performed in 2-l glass bottles filled with the wet oxidized newspaper samples. Methane fermentation of newspaper pretreated at 190 degrees C gave the highest CH(4) conversion efficiency (59% of the initial TCOD was recovered as CH(4) gas). Anaerobic cellulose removals varied from 74% to 88%.