Determination of optimum operating conditions of an acidification reactor treating a chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater

ÖKTEM Y. A., İnce O., Donnelly T., Sallis P., Ince B. K.

Process Biochemistry, vol.41, no.11, pp.2258-2263, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.procbio.2006.05.016
  • Journal Name: Process Biochemistry
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2258-2263
  • Keywords: Anaerobic digestion, Chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater, Degree of acidification, HRT, OLR, Optimum operating conditions
  • Uşak University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, the optimum operating conditions of a lab-scale completely stirred acidogenic reactor treating a chemical synthesis-based pharmaceutical wastewater were determined. Individual effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (OLR) and pH on the degree of acidification were investigated at a mesophilic temperature (35 ± 1 °C), for HRT in the range 8-24 h, OLR up to 14 kg COD/m3 d and pH in the range of 5.0-6.3. A maximum acidification level of 44% and COD removal efficiency of 13%, were obtained at an OLR of 13 kg COD/m3 d at pH of 5.5 ± 0.1 with an HRT of 12 h. Under these conditions, acetic, propionic and n-butyric acids were found to be predominant volatile fatty acids in the acidogenic reactor. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.