Effect of Sulfate on Anaerobic Degradation of Benzoate in UASB Reactors
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 4
Abstract
Wastewaters containing benzoate and sulfate were treated in two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors at 34–37°C for 320 d. The sulfate concentration was increased stepwise in Reactor-A up to 7,500 mg/L, and was kept mostly constant at 3,000 mg/L in Reactor-B. Both reactors removed over 98% of organic chemical-oxygen demand (COD) for sulfate up to 6,000 mg/L, despite the fact that the mixed liquor contained up to 769 mg S/L of total sulfides and up to 234 mg S/L of dissolved H2S. Sulfate-reducing efficiency decreased with the increase in sulfate concentration, but increased with time at each sulfate concentration. Reactor-B consistently reduced 89% of sulfate. However, both organic COD removal and sulfate-reducing efficiencies of Reactor-A dropped drastically at 7,500 mg /L, and showed no sign of recovery after 50 d. The system failure was likely due to the increased sulfate, instead of sulfide, toxicity. From the COD balance, 93.4% of COD removed was converted to methane instead of sulfides, with a net sludge yield of 0.047 g volatile suspended solids (VSS)/g COD. The sulfur balance was over 97%.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Balch, W. E., Fox, G. E., Magrum, L. J., and Wolfe, R. S.(1979). “Methanogens: reevaluation of unique biological group.”Microbiol. Rev., 43, 260–296.
2.
Boone, D. R., and Bryant, M. P.(1980). “Propionate-degrading bacterium, Syntrophobacter wolinii sp. nov. gen. nov., from methanogenic ecosystems.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 40(3), 626–632.
3.
Chartrain, M., and Zeikus, J. G.(1986). “Microbial ecophysiology of whey biomethanation: characterization of trophic populations and prevalent species composition in continuous cultures.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 51, 188–196.
4.
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), 1308–1321.
5.
Dolfing, J., and Mulder, J. W.(1985). “Comparison of methane production rate and coenzyme F420 content of methanogenic consortia in anaerobic granular sludge.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 49(5), 1142–1145.
6.
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.
7.
Fang, H. H. P., Chui, H. K., and Li, Y. Y.(1994a). “Microbial structure and activity of UASB granules treating different wastewaters.”Water Sci. and Technol., 30(12), 87–96.
8.
Fang, H. H. P., Chui, H. K., Li, Y. Y., and Chen, T.(1994b). “Performance and granule characteristics of UASB process treating wastewater with hydrolyzed proteins.”Water Sci. and Technol., 30(8), 55–63.
9.
Fang, H. H. P., Li, Y. Y., and Chui, H. K.(1995a). “UASB treatment of wastewater with concentrated mixed VFA.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 121(2), 153–160.
10.
Fang, H. H. P., Li, Y. Y., and Chui, H. K.(1995b). “Performance and sludge characteristics of UASB process treating propionate-rich wastewater.”Water Res., 29(3), 895–898.
11.
Fang, H. H. P., Chen, T., Li, Y. Y., and Chui, H. K.(1996). “Degradation of phenol in an UASB Reactor.”Water Res., 30(6), 1353–1360.
12.
Gupta, A., Flora, J. R. V., Gupta, M., Sayles, G. D., and Suidan, M. T.(1994). “Methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in chemostats—I. kinetic studies and experiments.”Water Res., 28(4), 781–793.
13.
Harada, H., Uemura, S., and Momonoi, K.(1994). “Interaction between sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing bacteria in UASB reactors fed with low strength wastes containing different levels of sulfate.”Water Res., 28(2), 355–367.
14.
Holt, J. G., Krieg, N. R., Sneath, P. H. A., Staley, J. T., and Williams, S. T. (ed.) (1994). Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, 9th Ed., Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Md., 335–346, 719–737.
15.
Isa, Z., Grusenneyer, S., and Verstraete, W.(1986). “Sulfate reduction relative to methane production in high-rate anaerobic digestion: microbial aspects.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 51(3), 580–587.
16.
Jain, M. K., Zeikus, J. G., and Bhatnagar, L. (1991). Anaerobic microbiology—a practical approach. P. N. Levett, ed., Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y., 223–246.
17.
Karhadkar, P. P., Audic, J., Faup, G. M., and Khanna, P.(1987). “Sulfide and sulfate inhibition of methanogenesis.”Water Res., 21(9), 1061–1066.
18.
Kobayashi, T., Hashinaga, T., Mikami, E., and Suzuki, T.(1989). “Methanogenic degradation of phenol and benzoate in acclimated sludges.”Water Sci. and Technol., 21, 55–65.
19.
Koster, I. W., Rinzema, A., DeVegt, A. L., and Lettinga, G.(1986). “Sulfide inhibition of the methanogenic activity of granular sludge at various pH levels.”Water Res., 20(12), 1561–1567.
20.
Kristjansson, J. K., Schonheit, P., and Thauer, R. K.(1982). “Different Ks values for hydrogen of methanogenic bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria: an explanation for the apparent inhibition of methanogenesis by sulfate.”Archives of Microbiol., 131, 278–282.
21.
Kroiss, H., and Wabnegg, F. P. (1983). “Sulfide toxicity with anaerobic wastewater treatment.”Proc., Eur. Symp. on Advanced Anaerobic Waste Treatment (AWWT), W. J. van der Brink, ed., 72–85.
22.
Kwong, T. S., and Fang, H. H. P.(1996). “Anaerobic degradation of cornstarch in wastewater in two upflow reactors.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 122(1), 9–17.
23.
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.”Biotechnol. Bioengrg., 22, 699–734.
24.
Lettinga, G., and Hulshoff Pol, L. W. (1992). “UASB process design for various types of wastewaters, in design of anaerobic process for the treatment of industrial and municipal wastes.”Design of anaerobic process for the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater, J. F. Malina and F. G. Pohland, eds., Technomic Publishing Co., Lancaster, Pa., 119–145.
25.
Li, Y. Y., Fang, H. H. P., Chen, T., and Chui, H. K.(1995). “UASB treatment of wastewater containing concentrated benzoate.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 121(10), 748–751.
26.
Li, Y. Y., Lam, S., and Fang, H. H. P.(1996). “Effect of sulfate on anaerobic benzoate degradation.”Water Res., 30(7), 1555–1562.
27.
Li, Y. Y., and Noike, T.(1989). “Characteristics of bacterial population and organic matter degradation in anaerobic sludge digestion: on methanogenic bacteria and homoacetogenic bacteria.”Japan J. Water Pollution Res., 12, 771–780.
28.
Londry, K. L., and Fedorak, P. M.(1993). “Use of fluorinated compounds detect aromatic metabolities from m-cresol in a methanogenic consortium: evidence for a demethylation reaction.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 59(7), 2229–2238.
29.
Maillacheruvu, K. Y., Parkin, G. F., Chen, Y. P., Kou, W. C., Oonge, Z. I., and Lebduschka, V.(1993). “Sulfide toxicity in anaerobic systems fed sulfate and various organics.”Water Envir. Res., 65(2), 100–108.
30.
Mizuno, O., Li, Y. Y., and Noike, T.(1994). “Effects of sulfate concentration and sludge retention time on the interaction between methane production and sulfate reduction for butyrate.”Water Sci. and Technol., 30(8), 45–54.
31.
Mountfort, D. O., and Asher, R. A.(1979). “Effect of inorganic sulfide in the growth and metabolism of Methanosarcina barkeri strain DM.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 37, 670–675.
32.
Nedwell, D. B., and Reynolds, P. J.(1996). “Treatment of landfill leachate by methanogenic and sulfate-reducing digestion.”Water Res., 30(1), 21–28.
33.
Official methods of analysis, 13th Ed. (1980). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, D.C., 825–851.
34.
Okabe, S., Nielsen, P. H., Jones, W. L., and Characklis, W. G.(1995). “Sulfide product inhibition of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans in batch and continuous cultures.”Water Res., 29(2), 571–578.
35.
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(6), 485–492.
36.
Parkin, G. F., Lynch, N. A., Kou, W. C., Vankeuren, E. L., and Bhattacharya, S. K.(1990). “Interaction between sulfate reducers and methanogens fed acetate and propionate.”J. Water Pollution Control Fed., 62(6), 780–789.
37.
Rinzema, A., and Lettinga, G.(1988). “The effect of sulfide on the anaerobic degradation of propionate.”Envir. Technol. Letters, 9, 83–88.
38.
Speece, R. E. (1983). “Anaerobic biotechnology for industrial wastewater treatment.”Envir. Sci. Technol., 17, 416A.
39.
Standard methods—for the examination of water and wastewater, 17th Ed. (1989). American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.
40.
Uberoi, V., and Bhattacharya, S. K.(1995). “Interactions among sulfate reducers, acetogens, and methanogens in anaerobic propionate systems.”Water Envir. Res., 67(3), 330–339.
41.
Visser, A., Beeksma, I., vander Zee F., Stams, and A. J. M., and Lettinga(1993a). “Anaerobic degradation of volatile fatty acids at different sulfate concentrations.”Appl. Microbiol. and Biotechnol., 40, 549–556.
42.
Visser, A., Nozhevnikova, A. N., and Lettinga, G.(1993b). “Sulfide inhibition of methanogenic activity at various pH levels at 55°C.”J. Chem. Tech. Biotechnol., 57, 9–13.
43.
Widdel, F. (1988). “Microbiology and ecology of sulfate and sulfur-reducing bacteria.”Biology of anaerobic microorganisms, A. J. B. Zehnder, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 469–585.
44.
Winfrey, M. R., and Ward, D. M.(1983). “Substrates for sulfate reduction and methane production in intertidal sediments.”Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 45(1), 193–199.
45.
Yoda, M., Kitagawa, M., and Miyaji, Y.(1987). “Long term competition between sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria for acetate in anaerobic biofilm.”Water Res., 21(12), 1547–1556.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 123 • Issue 4 • April 1997
Pages: 320 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 1, 1997
Published in print: Apr 1997
Authors
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.