KINETICS OF AN UPFLOW ANAEROBIC SLUDGE BLANKET REACTOR TREATING ICE-CREAM WASTE-WATER

A laboratory study was devised to verify the use of Monod kinetics for the modelling of continuous upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors treating ice-cream wastewater. Eight different hydraulic retention times (5.0-0.4 day) were investigated at an average influent COD concentration of 5.2 g.l-1). The maximum substrate utilization rate, k, and half saturation coefficient, K(L), were determined to be 1.39 kg COD(removed).kg-1 VSS.day-1 and 0.29 kg COD.kg-1 VSS.day-1. The yield coefficient, Y, and sludge decay rate coefficient, K(d), were also determined to be 0.16 kg VSS.kg-1 COD(removed) and 0.028 day-1, respectively. The close relationship between biomass loading rate and specific substrate utilization rate supported the use of Monod equations and allowed the model to be used predictively for assessing plant performance.