| 1. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of support material on the pattern of volatile fatty acid accumulation at overload in anaerobic digestion of semi-solid waste
- 1997
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Ingår i: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-0614 .- 0175-7598. ; 47, s. 640-644
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anaerobic degradation of a semi-solid waste with a total solids content of 4% particulate matter, much of it insoluble, was investigated in four laboratory-scale reactors. Two of the reactors were equipped with different textile materials for immobilisation of microorganisms, while the other two were used as continuously-stirred-tank reactor references, A constant organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time were used in the start-up period; the hydraulic retention time was then decreased and the effects of this change were monitored. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and pH were chosen as indicators of the microbial status in the reactors. The reactors with support material showed a greater resistance to overload than did the continuously-stirred-tank reactors. This is in agreement with many studies undertaken on the anaerobic treatment of wastewater. However, no problems with clogging occurred, showing that a support material is also applicable in systems treating waste containing large amounts of insoluble, particulate matter. The pH was comparable to VFA for indicating an approaching process failure. However, the pattern of VFA accumulation was qualitatively different between the reactors with and without support material, Obviously the metabolic pattern of mixed cultures changes when the microorganisms are immobilised.
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| 2. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of new methods for the monitoring of alkalinity dissolved hydrogen and the microbial community in anaerobic digestion
- 2001
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Ingår i: Water Research. - 1879-2448. ; 35:12, s. 2833-2840
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- New methods for spectrophotometric alkalinity measurement, dissolved hydrogen monitoring and for obtaining a fingerprint of the microbial community were evaluated as tools for process monitoring in anaerobic digestion. The anaerobic digestion process was operated at organic loading rates of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5g volatile solids l-1d-1 and subjected to pulse loads of carbohydrate, lipid, protein and a mixed sludge substrate. The spectrophotometric alkalinity monitoring method showed good agreement with traditional titrimetric alkalinity monitoring and has the advantage of being easy to modify to on-line monitoring applications. The on-line monitoring of dissolved hydrogen gave valuable information about approaching process overload and can be a good complement to the conventional monitoring of volatile fatty acids. Changing process conditions were also reflected in the microbial fingerprint that could be achieved by partitioning in two-phase systems. The investigated methods showed potential for application in increasing our understanding of the anaerobic digestion process as well as for being applicable for monitoring in the complex environment of full-scale anaerobic digestion processes.
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| 3. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of parameters for monitoring an anaerobic co-digestion process
- 2000
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Ingår i: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-0614 .- 0175-7598. ; 54:6, s. 844-849
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The system investigated in this study is an anaerobic digester at a municipal wastewater treatment plant operating on sludge from the wastewater treatment, co-digested with carbohydrate-rich food-processing waste. The digester is run below maximum capacity to prevent overload. Process monitoring at present is not extensive, even for the measurement of on-line gas production rate and off-line pH. Much could be gained if a better program for monitoring and control was developed, so that the full capacity of the system could be utilised without the risk of overload. The only limit presently set for correct process operation is that the pH should be above 6.8. In the present investigation, the pH was compared with alkalinity, gas production rate, gas composition and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA). Changes in organic load were monitored in the full-scale anaerobic digester and in laboratory-scale models of the plant. Gas-phase parameters showed a slow response to changes in load. The VFA concentrations were superior for indicating overload of the microbial system, but alkalinity and pH also proved to be good monitoring parameters. The possibility of using pH as a process indicator is, however, strongly dependent on the buffering capacity. In this study, a minor change in the amount of carbohydrates in the substrate had drastic effects on the buffering effect of the system.
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| 4. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Supports made from recycled glass as biofilm carriers in anaerobic packed bed treatment of high-strength wastewaters
- 1997
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Ingår i: Resource and Environmental Biotechnology. - 1358-2283. ; 1, s. 243-256
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The possibility of using carriers made of recycled glass in anaerobic packed bed reactors has been studied in laboratory-scale experiments. Two types of carrier were studied: a porous bead of glass foam and an open ring of a smoother, sintered glass. The performance of processes with these carriers was compared with a conventional upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process. The treatment of wastewater from a pulp and paper mill, and from a pharmaceutical plant was studied. Both carrier types were found to be suitable for supporting biofilm growth. With the porous beads, however, suspended sludge accumulated between the carriers, which caused clogging of the process. This, together with the low mechanical strength of the material, makes this carrier less suitable for full-scale processes. The sintered rings showed no signs of clogging and had better mechanical qualities and the maximum loading rate for pulp and paper processing wastewater was 10 kg COD m-3 d-1. This is similar to processes with commercially available plastic carriers, but with the UASB process, the maximum load with this wastewater was around 20 kg COD m-3 d-1, which makes the sintered ring process non-competitive. An anaerobic packed bed process with glass carriers could, however, find applications where the UASB process is not applicable. For example, the wastewater from the pharmaceutical plant could not be treated with conventional suspended sludge methods due to the toxicity of the effluent. Instead, treatment in a packed bed with porous glass beads was tested with good results.
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| 5. |
- Björnsson, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Utilisation of a Pd-MOS sensor for on-line monitoring of dissolved hydrogen in anaerobic digestion
- 2001
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Ingår i: Biotechnology and Bioengineering. - 1097-0290. ; 73:1, s. 35-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of a hydrogen-sensitive palladium-metal oxide semiconductor (Pd-MOS) sensor in combination with a membrane for liquid-to-gas transfer for the detection of dissolved hydrogen was investigated. The system was evaluated with known concentrations of dissolved hydrogen in water. The lowest concentration detected with this set-up was 160 nM. The method was applied to monitoring of a laboratory-scale anaerobic digestion process employing mixed sludge containing mainly food/industrial waste. Pulse loads of glucose were added to the system at different levels of microbial activity, and the microbial status of the culture was reflected in the dissolved hydrogen response. Simultaneous headspace hydrogen measurements were performed, and at the lower levels of dissolved hydrogen no corresponding headspace hydrogen could be detected. When glucose was added to a resting culture the dissolved hydrogen response was rapid and the first response could be detected 9 min after addition of glucose, whereas headspace hydrogen concentrations increased only after 80 to 110 min. This indicates limitations in the liquid-to-gas hydrogen transfer and illustrates the importance of hydrogen monitoring in the liquid. The sensor system developed is flexible, the membrane is easily replaceable, and the probe for liquid-to-gas hydrogen transfer can be adjusted easily to large-scale applications.
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| 6. |
- Bohn, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of temperature decrease on the microbial population and process performance of a mesophilic anaerobic bioreactor
- 2007
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Ingår i: Environmental Technology. - 1479-487X. ; 28:8, s. 943-952
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of a temperature decrease from 33 degrees C to 12 degrees C was investigated for anaerobic digestion of crop residues. A laboratory-scale reactor (R,) was inoculated with mesophilic sludge and operated as continuously stirred fed-batch system at temperatures of 12 degrees C, 18 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Changes in the microbial populations of the sludge were followed by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Methane was produced in R, at all temperatures. Stable long-term operation at 18 degrees C was achieved yielding 151 mlCH(4) gVS(added)(-1) at a rate of 108 mlCH(4) l(R)(-1)d(-1) once the microbial populations of the sludge had adapted to this temperature. After operation at 18 degrees C, the contents of R-0, was mixed and distributed into three smaller reactors, which were operated at 18 degrees C (R-18), 25 degrees C (R-25) and 37 degrees C (R-37) respectively. Methane production rates for R-37 and R-25 were 366 and 310 mlCH(4) l(R)(-1)d(-1), respectively, which were higher than the 215 mlCH(4) l(R)(-1)d(-1) obtained in R-0 when this was operated at 33 degrees C. Hydrolysis was found to decrease when temperature was decreased and especially below 25 degrees C. At temperatures below 16 degrees C, acidogenesis and methanogenesis were the rate-limiting steps. Adaptation of the mesophilic sludge to 18 degrees C was indicated by an increase in the ratio of Bacteria to total prokaryotes (sum of Archaea and Bacteria). This was thought to be caused by enrichment of Bacteria in the sludge, which appeared to be an important adaptation mechanism. During the adaptation, the Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinaceae populations increased relative to the total Archaea population whereas the Methanosaeta population decreased. The population changes were reflected by reactor performance.
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| 7. |
- Bohn, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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The energy balance in farm scale anaerobic digestion of crop residues at 11-37 degrees C
- 2007
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Ingår i: Process Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-3298 .- 1359-5113. ; 42:1, s. 57-64
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Crop residues can be used for biogas production in farm scale reactors. Use of a process temperature below mesophilic conditions reduces the need for heating as well as investment and operating costs, although it may also reduce the methane yield. In the present study the effect of temperature on net energy output was studied using sugar beet tops and straw as substrates for two pilot-scale reactors. Digestion was found to be stable down to 11 degrees C and optimal methane yield was obtained at 30 degrees C. The methane yield and process performance was studied at 15 degrees C and 30 'C as organic loading rates were increased. It was found that the highest net energy production would be achieved at 30 degrees C with a loading rate of 3.3 kg VS m(-3) day(-1). Running a low-cost process at ambient temperatures would give a net energy output of 60% of that obtained at 30 degrees C. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Cirne, Dores, et al.
(författare)
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Anaerobic digestion of lipid-rich waste - Effects of lipid concentration
- 2007
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Ingår i: Renewable Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-1481. ; 32:6, s. 965-975
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influence of lipid concentration on hydrolysis and biomethanation of a lipid-rich (triolein) model waste was evaluated in batch. The effect of increasing the concentration of lipid from 5% to 47% (w/w), based on chemical oxygen demand (COD), was investigated. The methane recovery observed was above 93% for all tests. An initial lag phase of approximately 6-10 days was observed for all tests. The methane production rate observed was similar for tests with 5%, 10% and 18% lipid (w/w, COD basis). For higher amounts of lipid (31%, 40% and 47%), a stronger inhibition was observed. However, the process was able to recover from the inhibition. When the effect of addition of lipase on enzymatic hydrolysis of lipids was studied, the results showed that the higher the enzyme concentration, the more accentuated was the inhibition of methane production. The enzyme appears to enhance the hydrolysis but the intermediates produced caused inhibition of the later steps in the,degradation process. Since the volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles presented similar trends for the different concentrations of lipid tested, the major obstacle to methane production was the long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) formation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Cirne, Dores, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of bioaugmentation by an anaerobic lipolytic bacterium on anaerobic digestion of lipid-rich waste
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. - : Wiley. - 0268-2575 .- 1097-4660. ; 81:11, s. 1745-1752
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of bioaugmentation with an anaerobic lipolytic bacterial strain on the anaerobic digestion of restaurant lipid-rich waste was studied in batch experiments with a model waste containing 10% lipids (triolein) under two sets of experimental conditions: (A) methanogenic conditions, and (B) initially acidogenic conditions in the presence of only the lipolytic strain biomass (4 days), followed by methanogenic conditions. The bioaugmenting lipolytic strain, Clostridium lundense (DSM 17049(T)), was isolated from bovine rumen. The highest lipolytic activity was detected at the beginning of the experiments. A higher methane production rate, 27.7 cm(3) CH4(STP) g(-1) VSadded day(-1) (VS, volatile solids) was observed in experiment A with the presence of the bioaugmenting lipolytic strain under methanogenic conditions. The highest initial oleate concentration, 99% of the total oleate contained in the substrate, was observed in the experiments with the bioaugmenting lipolytic strain under treatment A conditions; the levels of palmitate and stearate were also higher until day 15, indicating that the bioaugmentation strategy improved the hydrolysis of the lipid fraction. In general, the results indicated that degradation of the long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) controlled the digestion process. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.
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| 10. |
- Liu, Jing, et al.
(författare)
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Immobilised activated sludge based biosensor for biochemical oxygen demand measurement
- 2000
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Ingår i: Biosensors & Bioelectronics. - 1873-4235. ; 14:12, s. 883-893
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor, based on an immobilised mixed culture of microorganisms in combination with a dissolved oxygen electrode, has been developed for the purpose of on-line monitoring of the biological treatment process for waste and wastewater. The sensor was designed for easy replacement of the biomembrane, thereby making it suitable for short-term use. The drawbacks of activated sludge based sensor, such as short sensor lifetime, were thereby circumvented. The sensor BOD measurements were carried out in the kinetic mode using a flow injection system, resulting in 25 s for one measurement followed by 4-8 min recovery time. Based on the results of normalised sensor responses, the OECD synthetic wastewater was considered to be a more suitable calibration solution in comparison with the GGA solution. Good agreement was achieved between the results of the sensor BOD measurement and those obtained from BOD5 analysis of a wastewater sample from a food-processing factory. Reproducibility of responses using one sensor was below +/-5.6% standard deviation. Reproducibility of responses using different sensors was within acceptable bias limits, viz. +/-15% standard deviation.
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