TECHNICAL NOTES
Oct 1, 1995

UASB Treatment of Wastewater Containing Concentrated Benzoate

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 121, Issue 10

Abstract

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process removed 97–99% of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater containing concentrated benzoate at 37°C, pH 7.5, a hydraulic retention time of 9.8 h, and loading rates up to 30.6 g-COD/(Ls˙day) based on the reactor volume. About 95.2% of the total COD removed was converted to methane; 0.034 g of volatile suspended solids (VSS) was yielded for each gram of COD removed. The highly settleable granules were 1–3 mm in size with a layered microstructure and were composed in abundance of bacteria resembling the benzoate-degrading Syntrophus buswellii . Two interesting observations have led to the postulation that the degradation of benzoate into acetate was probably conducted completely inside the cell of Syntrophus buswellii -like bacteria: (1) No fatty acids except acetate were found in the effluent; and (2) the granules showed very limited butyrate-degrading capability and could not degrade propionate. This study demonstrated the feasibility of removing aromatic pollutants in wastewater by anaerobic processes.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Chui, H. K., and Fang, H. H. P.(1994). “Histological analysis of microstructure of UASB granules.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 120(5), 1322–1326.
2.
Chui, H. K., Fang, H. H. P., and Li, Y. Y.(1994). “Removal of formate from wastewater by anaerobic process.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 120(5), 1308–1320.
3.
Dolfing, J., and Mulder, J. W. (1985). “Comparison of methane production rate and coenzyme F 420 content of methanogenic consortia in anaerobic granular sludge.”Appl. Envir. Microbiology, 49(5), 1142–1145.
4.
Edwards, T., and McBride, B. C.(1975). “New method for the isolation and identification of methanogenic bacteria.”Appl. Microbiology, 29(4), 540–545.
5.
Fang, H. H. P., and Chui, H. K.(1993). “Maximum COD loading capacity in UASB reactors at 37°C.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 119(1), 103–119.
6.
Fang, H. H. P., Chui, H. K., and Li, Y. Y.(1994). “Microbial structure and activity of UASB granules treating different wastewaters.”Water Sci. Technol., 30(12), 87–96.
7.
Fang, H. H. P., Li, Y. Y., and Chui, H. K.(1995). “UASB treatment of wastewater with concentrated mixed VFA.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 121(2), 153–160.
8.
Fina, L. R., Bridges, R. L., Coblentz, T. H., and Roberts, F. F.(1978). “The anaerobic decomposition of benzoic acid during methane fermentation. III: the fate of carbon four and the identification of propanoic acid.”Arch. Microbiology, 118, 169–172.
9.
Keith, C. L., Bridges, R. L., Fina, L. R., Iverson, K. I., and Cloran, J. A.(1978). “The anaerobic decomposition of benzoic acid during methane fermentation. I: Dearomatization of the ring and volatile fatty acids formed on ring rupture.”Arch. Microbiology, 118, 173–176.
10.
Knoll, G., and Winter, J.(1989). “Degradation of phenol via carboxylation to benzoate by a defined, obligate syntrophic consortium of anaerobic bacteria.”Appl. Envir. Microbiology, 30, 318–324.
11.
Lawrence, A. W., and McCarty, P. C. (1969). “Kinetics of methane fermentation in anaerobic treatment.”J. Water Pollution Control Federation, 42(2), Part 2, R1–17.
12.
Lettinga, G., van Velsen, A. F. M., Hobma, S. M., de Zeeuw, W., and Klapwijk, A.(1980). “Use of the upflow sludge blanket (USB) reactor concept for biological wastewater treatment.”Biotech. Bioengrg., 22, 699–734.
13.
MacLeod, F. A., Guiot, S. R., and Costerton, J. W.(1990). “Layered structure of bacterial aggregates produced in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed and filter reactor.”Appl. Envir. Microbiology, 56(6), 1598–1607.
14.
Owen, W. F., Stuckey, D. C, Healy, J. B., Young, L. Y., and McCarty, P. L.(1979). “Bioassay for monitoring biochemical methane potential and anaerobic toxicity.”Water Res., 13, 485–492.
15.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1985). 16th Ed., American Public Health Assoc. (APHA), Washington, D.C.
16.
Tarvin, D., and Buswell, A. M.(1934). “The methane fermentation of organic acids and carbohydrates.”J. Am. Chemical Soc., 56, 1751–1755.
17.
Tschech, A., and Schink, B.(1986). “Fermentative degradation of monohydroxybenzoate by defined syntrophic cocultures.”Arch. Microbiology, 145, 396–402.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 121Issue 10October 1995
Pages: 748 - 751

History

Published online: Oct 1, 1995
Published in print: Oct 1995

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Yu-You Li
Assoc. Prof., Civ. Engrg. Dept., Tohoku Univ., Sendai, Japan; formerly, Res. Assoc., Civ. and Struct. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong.
Herbert H. P. Fang, Member, ASCE
Sr. Lect., Civ. and Struct. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong.
Tong Chen
Res. Student, Civ. and Struct. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd.
Ho-Kwong Chui
Envir. Protection Ofcr., Envir. Protection Dept., Hong Kong Government; formerly, Res. Student, Civ. and Struct. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share