Date of Award
Summer 2007
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Zitomer, Daniel H.
Second Advisor
Switzenbaum, Michael S.
Third Advisor
Crandall, Clifford J.
Abstract
When increased organic loading occurs in anaerobic treatment systems, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) build up in the system, causing a decrease in pH that leads to the cessation of methane production and a "stuck" digester that can no longer meet treatment requirements. Methods for recovery from this type of upset would be very useful and increase the attractiveness of the anaerobic process as a treatment option. In this study, nitrate, a substance released by common industrial and agricultural practices, which is knowm to inhibit methanogenesis was added to serum bottle anaerobic digesters and the organic loading was increased to stress the systems. Bioaugmentation with an enrichment culture of methanogenic organisms acclimated to nitrate was then applied to study it as an option for increasing the rate of system recovery. There were three sets of reactors in the study, each with five replicates. The control set received only nutrients and non-fat dry milk, as a source of COD. An autoclaved augmentation set and a bioaugmentation set received those same substances and an augmentation of either an autoclaved sample of the enrichment culture or a live sample of the enrichment culture, respectively. These reactors were rum at a 10-day solids retention time (SRT). Over the course of the study, the effluent pH, VFA and soluble COD concentrations, volume of biogas production, and percent methane in headspace gas were measured...
Recommended Citation
Loete, Veronica K., "Bioaugmentation for Nitrate Inhibition Recovery in Anaerobic Treatment" (2007). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 5013.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/5013