Comparison of anaerobic acrylic acid biotransformation in single- and two-stage pH-stat completely stirred tank reactor systems


Demirer G., Speece R.

WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH, vol.72, no.1, pp.84-89, 2000 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 72 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2000
  • Doi Number: 10.2175/106143000x137149
  • Journal Name: WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.84-89
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Performance of single- and two-stage pH-stat completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) systems for anaerobic acrylic acid biotransformation was investigated and compared. In the experiments, acetate was added with acrylic acid. Acetate concentration in both single- and two-stage reactors was continuously maintained at a nonlimiting concentration of 2000 +/- 200 mg/L. using a computer-controlled pH-stat system to allow observation of the effect of acrylate biotransformation on the more sensitive methanogenic step. For this purpose, conventional (one-stage) and two-stage pi-I-stat CSTR systems with the same acrylic acid loading strategy were operated under the same conditions, and their performances were compared. The food-to-microorganism ratio in the first stage of the two-stage system was maintained at approximately two times that of the one-stage system. Furthermore. relatively high acrylate concentrations and dilution rates were achieved in the first stage of the two-stage system. Results revealed that the two-stage pH-stat CSTR system provided better effluent quality and more stable operation with the toxic effects of acrylic acid and its intermediate products than the single-stage system.