Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-hollow centered packed bed (UASB-HCPB) reactor for thermophilic palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy Vol. 67; pp. 231 - 242
• Main Authors: POH, P. E, CHONG, M. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Energy; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial wastewaters; Pollution; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Alternative fuel; Packed bed; Palm oil mill effluent; Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor; Thermophily; Biogas; Wastewater treatment; Anaerobic digestion; Biological purification; Oil plant; Bioreactor; Industrial waste water; Bioreactors; Production; Bioremediation; Waste water purification
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.05.007

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-hollow centered packed bed (UASB-HCPB) reactor was developed with the aim to minimize operational problems in the anaerobic treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) under thermophilic conditions. The performance of UASB-HCPB reactor on POME treatment was investigated at 55 degree C. Subsequent to start-up, the performance of the UASB-HCPB reactor was evaluated in terms of i) effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT); ii) effect of organic loading rate (OLR); and iii) effect of mixed liquor volatile suspended solid (MLVSS) concentration on thermophilic POME treatment. Start-up up of the UASB-HCPB reactor was completed in 36 days, removing 88% COD and 90% BOD respectively at an OLR of 28.12 g L super(-1) d super(-1), producing biogas with 52% of methane. Results from the performance study of the UASB-HCPB reactor on thermophilic POME treatment indicated that HRT of 2 days, OLR of 27.65 g L super(-1) d super(-1) and MLVSS concentration of 14.7 g L super(-1) was required to remove 90% of COD and BOD, 80% of suspended solid and at the same time produce 60% of methane.