ANAEROBIC

 BIOLOGICAL  TREATMENT    
OF    
INDUSTRIAL  /    DOMESTIC  WASTEWATER  

 
 
 
                                                 V    R    CHOKHAVATIA  
1.    TREATMENT  OF  LIQUID  EFFLUENTS  

Liquid  effluents  either  in  sewage  or  industrial  waste  water  have  to  
be   given   treatment   before   releasing   the   same   to   the   natural  
environment.  
 
The  treatment  given  to  liquid  effluents  can  be  aerobic  /  anaerobic.    
In  primary  /  aerobic  treatment,  the  purpose  of  the  treatment  is  to  
remove   suspended   solids   in   a   form   of   sludge   from   each   unit  
operations  to  treat  the  liquid  effluents.  
 
The   sludge   from   the   unit   operations   of   the   primary   /   aerobic  
treatment   has   to   be   stabilized   and   for   stabilization   anaerobic  
process  is  used.  
 
TREATMENT  OF  LIQUID  EFFLUENTS  [contd.]  

The  anaerobic  process  is  also  used  for  liquid  effluents.    The  use  of  
anaerobic   process   for   the   liquid   effluents   will   remove   number   of  
unit  operations  from  the  primary  and  aerobic  treatment.  
 
2.    ANAEROBIC  TREATMENT  
 

Anaerobic   treatment   is   the   process   of   conversion   of   organic   matter   in  

the   waste   [liquid   or   solid]   to   Bio   Methane   [bio   gas]   and   manure   by  
microbial  actions  in  the  absence  of  air  known  as  anaerobic  digestion  .        
 
The   liquid   effluents   which   are   easily   acceptable   to   the   anaerobic  
process  are  
*  Effluent  containing  lipids  
*  Effluent  containing  carbohydrates  
*  Effluent  containing  proteins  
*  Effluent  containing  cellulose  
*  And  effluent  containing  all  the  above  constituents  like  sewage  
2.    ANAEROBIC  TREATMENT    [contd.]  
 

Advantages  –  
 Produces  methane  
 Reduces  total  sludge  mass  
 Yields  a  solid  residue  suitable  for  use  as  a  soil  conditioner  
 Inactivates  pathogens  
Disadvantages  –    
 High  Capital  cost    
 Is  susceptible  to  up  sets  
 Keeps  methane  producing  bacteria  growth  at  a  slow  rate    
3.    BASICS  

*  Complex  process  leading  to  generation  of  methane  and  carbon  

dioxide.    
*  Process  involves  three  steps  
*  Hydrolysis    
*  Acidification    
*  Methanogenesis    
 
•  Process  can  be  carried  out  in    
 Single  step    
 Two  step    
3.  BASICS  [contd.]    -­‐    HYDROLYSIS  

*  Anaerobic   bacteria   breakdown   complex   organic   material   –  

(proteins,   cellulose,   carbohydrates   and   lipids)   into   soluble  
monomer   molecules   such   as   amino   acids,   glucose,   fatty   acids  
and  glycerol.    
*  Monomers  are  available  to  the  next  group  of  bacteria.    
*  Hydrolysis   of   complex   molecules   is   catalyzed   by   extra   cellular  
enzymes  (cellulose,  proteases  and  lipases).    
*  Hydrolytic   phase   is   relatively   slow   ,can   be         limiting   in   anaerobic  
digestion.    
3.  BASICS  [contd.]    -­‐  ACIDOGENESIS    

*  Acidogenic    bacteria  converts  sugar,  amino  acids  and  fatty  acids  

to  organic  acids  (acetic,  propionic,  formic,  lactic,  butyric  acids),  
alcohols,  acetate,    CO2and  H2.    
*  Acetate  is  the  main  product  of  carbohydrate  fermentation.    
*  The  products  formed  vary  with  type  of  bacteria  as  well  as  with  
the  culture  conditions  (temperature,  pH  etc).    
3.  BASICS  [contd.]    -­‐  ACETOGENESIS    

*  Acetogenic  bacteria  converts  fatty  acids  and    alcohols  into  

acetate,  hydrogen  and  carbon  dioxide  .    
*  Acetogenic  bacteria  requires  low  hydrogen  for  fatty  acids  
conversion  .    
*  Under  relatively  high  hydrogen  partial  pressure,  acetate  
formation  is  reduced  and  the  substrate  is  converted  to  propionic  
acid,  butyric  acid  and  ethanol  rather  than  methane.    
3.  BASICS  [contd.]    -­‐  METHANOGENESIS    

*  Methanogenesis  in  microbes  is  a  form  of  anaerobic  respiration.    

*  Methanogens  do  not  use  oxygen  to  breathe,  oxygen  inhibits  the  
growth  of  methanogens.    
*  Two  best  described  pathways  involve  the  use  of  carbon  dioxide  
and  acetic  acid  as  terminal  electron  acceptors:    
*  CO2+  4  H2  →  CH4  +  2H2O    
*  CH3COOH  →  CH4  +  CO2    
 
3.  BASICS  [contd.]    -­‐  METHANOGENESIS    

*  During  proper  operation  of  Anaerobic  Digester,  the  two  phase  of  
degradation   are   in   dynamic   equilibrium.   The   volatile   organic  
acids   are   converted   to   methane   at   the   same   rate   that   they   are  
formed  from  the  more  complex  organic  molecules.  
*  The   anaerobic   process   is   essentially   controlled   by   the   methane  
bacteria   because   of   their   slow   growth   rate   and   sensitivity   to  
environmental   change.   Therefore,   all   successful   designs   must   be  
based   around   the   special   limiting   characteristics   of   these  
microorganisms.    
4.  TYPE  OF  ANAEROBIC  PROCESSES    

For  domestic  sewage  and  liquid  effluents  from  the  industries,  the  
following  anaerobic  reactors  are  used.      
1.  Up  flow  anaerobic  sludge  blanket  [UASB]    reactor  
2.  Anaerobic  digesters  
3.  Up  flow  /  down  flow  anaerobic  filters  
 
The   selection   of   the   type   of   the   reactor   varies   from   designer   to  
designer   and   his   comfort   level   with   the   processes.   For   domestic  
sewage,   UASB   reactors   is   used   whereas   anaerobic   digesters   are  
used  with  aerobic  process  and  mainly  for  sludge  digestion.  
5.  DESIGN  CONSIDERATIONS  

LOADING  CRITERIA:  
•  For  UASB  reactor  –    3  kg  of  COD/cu.m  to  15  kg  of  COD/cu.m  or  15  kg  of  
VSS/  cu.m    to  30  kg  of  VSS/  cu.m  [around  70  kg  TSS/cu.m].  
•  For  Up  flow  /  down  flow  filters  –  1  kg  of  COD/cu.m  to  3  kg  of  COD/cu.m  
•  Anaerobic  digestion  –  10  days  to  20  days  of  solid  retention  time  or  2.4  
kg  of  VSS/cu.m/day  to  6.4  kg  of  VSS/cu.m/day  

•  Recommended  sizing  procedures  

Complete   mixing,   uniform   feeding   and   withdrawal   rates,                                          
controlling  digestion  temperature  
5.  DESIGN  CONSIDERATIONS  [contd.]  

•  Solids  reduction  
One  of  the  main  objective  of  anaerobic  digestion  is  to  reduce  amount  of  
solids   for   ultimate   disposal.     Only   the   volatile   portion   of   the   solids   is  
reduced.    A  common  measure  of  digester  performance  is  the  percent  of  
the   volatile   solid   destroyed.     Generally,   35%   to   60%   of   volatile   solid  
reduction  takes  place.  
 
The   most   important   operating   parameters   affecting   volatile   solid  
reduction  are  solids  retention  time  and  digestion  temperature.  
 
5.  DESIGN  CONSIDERATIONS  [contd.]  

*  Gas  production  
Specific  gas  production  for  anaerobic  digester  ranges  between  0.74  
cu.m/kg   to   1.05   cu.m/kg   of   volatile   solid   destroyed.   A   healthy  
digestion   process     produces   a   digester   gas   with   65%   to   75%  
methane,   30%   to   35%   carbon   dioxide   and   very   low   levels   of  
nitrogen,   hydrogen   and   hydrogen   sulfide.     The   heat   value   for  
digester  gas  ranges  between  4.5  kg-­‐kcal/cu.m  to  6.2  kg-­‐kcal/cu.m.    1  
cu.m  of  biogas  with  75%  methane  content  is  equivalent  to  1.4  kWh  
electricity.  
 
The   gas   production   from   the   UASB   and   up   flow   /   down   flow  
anaerobic  filters  are  0.35  cu.m  of  biogas  /  kg  of  COD  destroyed.  
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  

NUTRIENTS    
*  Lower  nutrient  requirement  compared  to  aerobic  bacteria.    
*  COD:N    range  is  700:5.    
*  N  used  in  synthesis  of  Enzymes,  RNA,  DNA.    
*  Concentration  of  various  nutrients  
*  N  :  50  mg/l    
*  P  :  10  mg/l    
*  S  :  5  mg/l    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  

pH    
*  Most  important  process  control  parameter.    
*  Optimum   pH   between   6.7   &   7.4   range   for   methanogenic  
bacteria.    
*  The   methane   forming   bacteria   does   not   get   killed   by   high   and  
low  pH  levels,  but  their  growth  is  stopped.  
*  Excess   alkalinity   or   ability   to   control   pH   must   be   present   to  
guard  against  the  accumulation  of  excess  volatile  acids.    
*  In  anaerobic  digestion  process,  the  pH  range  of  6  -­‐   8  makes  the  
carbon  dioxide  -­‐  bi  carbonate  relationship  most  important.  
*  The   three   major   sources   of   the   alkalinity   are   lime,   Sodium  
bicarbonate  and  sodium  hydroxide.    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  

*  If  bi  carbonate  alkalinity  is  added,  buffering  capacities  increase,  

system  pH  is  stabilized  and  the  system  becomes  less  susceptible  
to  up  set.  
*  The  bi  carbonate  alkalinity  is  calculated  from  total  alkalinity  by    
BA  =  TA  -­‐  0.71  [VA]  Where  
BA  =  Bi  carbonate  Alkalinity  as  mg/l  CaCO3  
TA  =  Total  Alkalinity  as  mg/l  CaCO3  determine  by  titration  to  pH  4  
VA  =  Volatile  Acids  measured  as  mg/l  acetic  acid  
 
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  

It   is   desirable   to   increase   digester   pH   and   buffering   capacity   by   the  

addition  of  sodium  bi  carbonate.      
 
Other   alkali   materials   such   as   caustic,   soda   ash   and   lime   will   not  
increase   bi   carbonate   alkalinity   without   reacting   with   soluble  
carbon   dioxide   and   this   will   cause   a   partial   vacuum   within   the  
system.     Above   pH   6.3,   lime   may   react   with   bi   carbonate   to   form  
insoluble  calcium  carbonate  promoting  scale  formation.      
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  

TEMPERATURE    
*  Constant  and  Uniform  temperature  maintenance.    
*  Three  temperature  range  Psychrophilic  range  ;    <  200  C.  
Mesophilic    range  ;  200  C  to  400C.  Thermophilic  range  ;    
>400  C.    
*  Rates  of  methane  production  double  for  each  100C  
temperature  change  in  the  Mesophilic  range  .    
*  Loading  rates  must  decrease  as  temperature  decreases  to  
maintain  the  same  extent  of  treatment.    
*  Operation  in  the  Thermophilic  range  is  not    practical  
because  of  the  high  heating  energy  requirement    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  

TEMPERATURE    
*  Large   cyclic   varia,ons   in   the   rate   of   gas   produc,on   and   the    
methane  content.    
*  The   values   for   volumetric   biogas   produc,on   rate   and   methane  
yield  increased  at  higher  temperatures.    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  
 
 

SOLID  RETENTION  TIME  (SRT)  AND  HYDRAULIC  RETENTION  TIME

(HRT)    
*  SRT  is  defined  as  the  average  time  the  solid  particles  remains  in  
the  reactor.    
*  The  SRT  changes  as  per  the  process  used.      
*  In  UASB  reactor,  the  solid  retention  time  is  much  higher.    It  is  
between  30  days  to  50  days  or  more.  
*  HRT  for  UASB  reactor  is  between  8  hrs.  to  10  hrs.  
*  The  anaerobic  digestion  is  typically  performed  in  Continuously  
Stirred  Tank  Reactor  (CSTR).    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  
 
 

SOLID  RETENTION  TIME  (SRT)  AND  HYDRAULIC  RETENTION  TIME

(HRT)    
*  The  performance  of  CSTR  is  dependent  on  hydraulic  retention  
time  (HRT)    of  the  substrate  and  the  degree  of  contact  between  
the  incoming  substrate  and  a  viable  bacterial  population.    
*  An  increase  or  decrease  in  SRT  results  in  an  increase  or  decrease  
of  the  reaction  extent.    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  
   
 

MIXING  
*  Mixing   creates   a   homogeneous   substrate   preventing  
stratification  and  formation  of  a  surface  crust,  and  ensures  solids  
remain  in  suspension.    
*  Mixing   enables   heat   transfer   and   particle   size   reduction   as  
digestion  progresses  .    
*  •  Mixing  can  be  performed  in  two  different  ways:    
*  Continuous  mixing  –  SRT  is  equal  to  HRT    
*  Non-­‐continuous  mixing  –  SRT  is  more  than  HRT    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]  
 

*  The   effect   of   continuous   ,   minimal   (mixing   for   10   min   prior   to  

extraction   /   feeding)   and   intermittent   mixing   (withholding  
mixing   for   2   hr   prior   to   extraction/feeding)   on   methane  
production  was  investigated  in  lab-­‐scale  .    
*  On   comparison   to   continuous   mixing,   intermittent   and   minimal  
mixing   strategies   improved   methane   productions   by   1.3%   and  
12.5%,  respectively.    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]    

ALKALINITY  
 
*  Calcium,  magnesium,  and  ammonium  bicarbonate  are  examples  
of  buffering  substances  found  in  a  digester  .    
*  A  well  established  digester  has  a  total  alkalinity  of  2000  to  5000  
mg/L.    
*  The   principal   consumer   of   alkalinity   in   a   reactor   is   carbon  
dioxide  .    
6.    FACTORS  AFFECTING  ANAEROBIC  PROCESS  [contd.]    

TOXICITY  
 
*  Toxicity   depends   upon   the   nature   of   the   substance   ,  
concentration  and  acclimatization  .    
*  NH   4-­‐N  concentration  of  1500-­‐3000  mg/L  at  200C  and  pH  7.4  and  
above  is  considered  stimulatory  .    
*  Anaerobic   process   is   highly   sensitive   to   toxicants   due   to   slow  
growth  rate.    
7.    GAS  TREATMENT  AND  HANDLING    

*  Gas   from   digester   contains   methane,   carbon   dioxide   and   trace  

quantities  of  hydrogen  sulfide.    
*  CO2   and   H2S   must   be   removed   if   the   methane   gas   is   to   be  
pumped  for  combustion  purpose.    
*  Standard  method  of  removing  acid  gases  from  natural  gas  is  by  
absorption   with   monoethanolamine   (MEA),   the   MEA   is   then  
regenerated  and  recirculated.    
*  Methane   must   also   be   dried,   accomplished   by   a   glycol  
dehydration   process   in   which   the   moisture   is   absorbed   in   dry  
glycol,  which  is  also  regenerated  and  recirculated.    
8.    CASE  STUDIES  

  Up  flow  anaerobic  filters  

  Anaerobic  lagoons  
  Anaerobic  digester  
  UASB  reactors  
THANK YOU