Anaerobic process in Activated

Sludge plant
Dr. Md. Jahir Bin Alam
 What is anaerobic process
• Definition
“Use of microbial organisms, in the absence of oxygen,
for the stabilisation of organic materials by conversion to
methane (CH4) and inorganic products including carbon
dioxide”
(anaerobes)
• organic matter + H2O → → → CH4 + CO2 + new biomass
+ NH3 + H2S + heat
Anaerobic Digestion
 Biological
reactor

Effluent
storage pond
Anaerobic Processes

COMPLEX ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Stage 1 anaerobic bacteria

(acidogenesis)

Organic acids, alcohols, CO2 + H2

Stage 2
methane forming bacteria
(methanogenesis)

CH4 + CO2 + H2O

 Step 1: Hydrolysis

large, complex soluble and insoluble molecules

(e.g. proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, fats)

 (extracellular
enzymes)


simple and small products
(e.g. amino acids, sugars, fatty acids)
for passage across cell membrane
 Step 2: Acetogenesis

• Fermentation of hydrolysis end products into

organic acids, alcohols, ammonia, hydrogen
and carbon dioxide
• Organic acids are converted to acetic acid,
hydrogen and carbon dioxide
• The primary product is acetic acid
• Microbes are robust and can tolerate wide
range of environmental conditions (pH
optimum 5 to 6)
Step 3: Methanogenesis

• Formation of methane through two pathways

– conversion of acetic acid to methane
• C2H4O2 → CH4 + CO2 (acetoclastic / acetophilic bacteria)

– conversion of H2O and CO2 to methane

• 4H2 + CO2 → CH4 + 2H2O
• (hydrogenophilic methanogens)
• HCO3- → CH4 + CO2
• Microbes are sensitive to pH (6 to 8 only) – requires sufficient alkalinity to
maintain pH
• Rates of metabolism is lower than the acid forming bacteria – rate limiting
step in anaerobic digestion
Control of anaerobic digestion
Effect of temperature
• As T , rate of reaction also , but not as
Effect of pH
significant as in chemical reaction
Effect of nutrients
Effect of organic loading rate Optimum is around 7 (range between 6 to 8)
Requires proper pH control as methane
forming bacteria is very sensitive to pH change
Nutrient requirement – requires less nutrient as compared to aerobic process
COD : N : P
Activated sludge 100 : 5 : 1
Anaerobic process 250 : 5 : 1