Review paper on current technologies for decolourisation of textile wastewaters: Perspectives for anaerobic biotechnology

https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/pdf/S0167-7799(04)00193-3.pdf

Production of bioenergy and biochemicals from industrial and agricultural wastewater.

https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/pdf/S0167-7799(08)00159-5.pdf

Towards practical implementation of bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment.

Interspecies electron transfer is a key process in methanogenic and sulphate-reducing environments. Bacteria and archaea that live in syntrophic communities take advantage of the metabolic abilities of their syntrophic partner to overcome energy barriers and break down compounds that they cannot digest by themselves. Here, we review the transfer of hydrogen and formate between bacteria and archaea that helps to sustain growth in syntrophic methanogenic communities. We also describe the process of reverse electron transfer, which is a key requirement in obligately syntrophic interactions. Anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to sulphate reduction is also carried out by syntrophic communities of bacteria and archaea but, as we discuss, the exact mechanism of this syntrophic interaction is not yet understood.

Electron transfer in syntrophic communities of anaerobic bacteria and archaea

Enhancement of biogas production from solid substrates using different techniques--a review.

In recent years considerable effort has been made in the Netherlands toward the development of a more sophisticated anaerobic treatment process, suitable for treating low a strength wastes and for applications at liquid detention times of 3–4 hr. The efforts have resulted in new type of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process, which in recent 6 m3 pilot-plant experiments has shown to be capable of handling organic space loads of 15–40 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)·m−3/day at 3–8 hr liquid detention times. In the first 200 m3 full-scale plant of the UASB concept, organic space loadings of up to 16 kg COD·m−3/day could be treated satisfactorily at a detention times of 4 hr, using sugar beet waste as feed. The main results obtained with the process in the laboratory as well as in 6 m3 pilot plant and 200 m3 full-scale experiments are presented and evaluated in this paper. Special attention is given to the main operating characteristics of the UASB reactor concept. Moreover, some preliminary results are presented of laboratory experiments concerning the use of the USB reactor concept for denitrification as well as for the acid formation step in anaerobic treatment. For both purposes the process looks feasible because very satisfactory results with respect to denitrification and acid formation can be achieved at very high hydraulic loads (12 day−1) and high organic loading rates, i.e., 20 kg COD·m−3/day in the denitrification and 60–80 kg COD·m−3/day in the acid formation experiments.

Use of the upflow sludge blanket (USB) reactor concept for biological wastewater treatment, especially for anaerobic treatment

Feasibility of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)-Process

Comprehensive laboratory and pilot plant studies conducted in recent years in The Netherlands have resulted in the development of a new anaerobic treatment process, i.e. the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) process, which was shown to be feasible for handling a large variety of industrial wastes at exceptionally high organic loading and hydraulic loading rates. So with sugar beet and potato processing wastes organic loading rates have been applied up to 30 and 45 kg COD m −3 day −1 respectively at 27–35 °C and liquid retention times of 4–8 hrs. In addition to the treatment of low strength industrial wastes the UASB-process has been investigated for its feasibility in treating domestic sewage. Results obtained in 1–2 m high UASB-reactors indicate that anaerobic pretreatment of domestic sewage may represent an attractive proposition, because it was shown that: (a) 50–80% COD-reduction could be obtained in 12–24 hrs retention time at a temperature between 13 and 30 °C; (b) the process can be combined — if required — with various simple post-treatment methods in order to achieve a 90% COD-reduction. An active anaerobic sludge can be preserved unfed for a period of one year and more, the application of anaerobic treatment for wastes of campaign industries and of domestic sewage originating from camping sites is very attractive. Moreover, the UASB process in its full-scale design is fairly simple and cheap, and the process can be well combined with other recycle methods, such as for NH + 4 -N. The main features of the UASB process as well as the results obtained with the process in pilot and full-scale plants with various types of waste ( e.g. of the sugar beet, potato processing industry, domestic sewage) will be described and evaluated.

A.F.M. van Velsen

Papers

Use of the upflow sludge blanket (USB) reactor concept for biological wastewater treatment, especially for anaerobic treatment

Feasibility of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)-Process

Feasibility of Anaerobic Digestion for the Direct Treatment of, and the Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes

Use of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Process in Waste Water Treatment