Abstract

FUENTES, M.; SCENNA, N. J.; AGUIRRE, P. A.  and  MUSSATI, M. C.. Anaerobic digestion of carbohydrate and protein-based wastewaters in fluidized bed bioreactors. Lat. Am. appl. res. [online]. 2007, vol.37, n.4, pp.235-242. ISSN 0327-0793.

The present work is focused on evaluating the anaerobic digestion of complex substrates (proteins and carbohydrates) in anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs). In a previous paper, an AFBR model was adjusted using only the experimental data obtained during the acclimatization stage (glucose and acetate-based feeding) of two mesophilic bioreactors. Here, the sensitivity of that model to represent the digestion processes of proteins such as gelatin and albumin, and sucrose as a carbohydrate, is analyzed. Some kinetic expressions and parameters for the enzymatic hydrolysis processes need to be modified to represent the real behavior of bioreactors. Under the analyzed operating conditions, a hydraulic retention time higher than 1 day is suggested to ensure good system efficiency.

Keywords : Anaerobic Processes; Biofilms; Complex Substrates; Dynamic Modeling; Fluidized Bed Bioreactor; Wastewater Treatment.

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