Where, K
t
= ionization constant for carbonic acid.
H
2
CO
3
= carbonic acid concentration, related to percentage of CO
2
in the reactor.
HCO
3
= bicarbonate ion concentration, forming of the total alkalinity.
The bicarbonate alkalinity is approximately equivalent to the total alkalinity for most waste,
when VFA concentration is low. When VFA begins to increase in concentration, the pH is
buffered by the bicarbonate alkalinity.
It is found that, CO2 gas and bicarbonate alkalinity are closely related. Hence, low alkalinity
values in an anaerobic reactor do not allow much safety factor for increase in volatile acid.
It is therefore, desirable to have bicarbonate alkalinity value in the range of 2000 5000 mg/L,
in order to provide a buffer capacity to increase with a minimum decrease of pH.
It is recommended that VFA concentration should be less than 250 mg/L. The alkalinity in the
reactor can be controlled by- (i) by reducing the feed rate, which will allow to utilized the VFA
in the reactor and (ii) addition of alkaline materiel such as lime or sodium hydroxide.
[5]. NUTRIENTS
i. For any biological system to operate, inorganic nutrients
required for bacteria growth must be supplied.
ii. The minimum requirement of C:N:P ratio is 100:6:1. However
several investigations reported in the range of 200:5:1 to
800:5:1 (Matta, 1985).
iii. When the loading rate is high, the ratio is usually 100:5:1 to
500:6.7:1.
iv. For complex waste, especially higher carbohydrate contents,
the ratio of 300:6.7:1 should be preferred (Frostell, 1985).
v. Besides nitrogen and phosphorus, a large number of other
elements have been shown to be necessary for optimum
anaerobic growth like, Ni, Co, No, Mg, Fe, K etc.
[6.] OXIDANTS
It has been long recognized that absence of free oxygen is an obligatory prerequisite for
stable anaerobic treatment. The chemically bound oxygen interferes negatively, if available to
anaerobes. The interferes of compounds like, NO
3
and SO
4
/SO
3
in gaining wider importance
in anaerobic treatment.
(i) Nitrate: If wastewater contains high concentration of NO3, by induction of pre-
denitrification can improve the performance.
(ii). Sulfate: Sulfides requires special attention in case of all anaerobic processes. Sulfide may
come from industrial process or may formed in the anaerobic unit as a result of reduction of
sulfate present in wastewater. Sulfur reducing bacteria utilized sulfate as an electron acceptor
with H
2
S being a end product. Elemental sulfur or organic sulfur compound may also appear
in product.
The role of sulfite and sulfate is to divert the electron from methanogenesis thus resulting in a lower
methane production.
Another influences is the production of H2S gas, which inhibits anaerobic treatment when present at
higher concentration. The inhibition of acetoclastic methanogens by sulfide was studied & found that
more than 40% inhibition of methanogenesis at free H
2
S level of 50 mg/L, and increases to 100%
inhibition at 250 mg/L.
It has been showed that, when TOC level is less than 170 g/L (equivalent to 500 mg/L COD), sulfate
concentration up to 160 mg/L do not effect the TOC reduction. Therefore, when TOC/sulfate ratio = 1,
there will be no problems, which is common in majority of sewage.
[7]. Inhibitors/ toxic materials
A large number of toxicants are known to affects the anaerobic biological process; like-
1. Heavy metals;
2. Detergent and disinfectant used in food industry clean up
3. Solvent from degreasing operation,
4. Inhibitors formed as secondary products (e.g, cyanide in coal coking operation).
5. Chemical inhibitors for food preservation.
The available strategies to decrease the impact of toxic material have been listed as follows:
1. Remove toxic material from waste
2. Dilute the waste,
3. Allow a long adaptation period,
4. Use detoxification stage
5. Design for a longer SRT,
6. Form an insoluble complex or precipitate,
7. Antagonize toxicity with another materials.
Removal of toxic materials or dilutions of the waste are rather obvious solutions, but
the possibility of NH
3
, SO
2
, H
2
S stripping is mentioned by Takesshita et.al (1982).
MONITORING AND CONTROL OF ANAEROBIC TREATMENT
PARAMETER FREQUENCY
(i) Influent (rate. concentration
composition, toxicity)
+++
(ii) SRT +++
(iii) Temperature +++
(iv) pH +++
(v) Gas production and composition ++
(vi) Treatment efficiency ++
(vii) Volatile fatty acid and alkalinity +
+++= Should continuously monitored and controlled
++ = daily monitored; + =Intermittent monitoring.
Q8. List the important parameters to be monitored for the improvement of anaerobic
process efficiency and their frequency of monitoring.
8.0 Points to be remembered
1. Anaerobic treatment definitely has the potential to treat low strength
wastewater.
2. Major advantages are low energy requirement, low nutrient
requirement, low sludge production, however slow growth of
anaerobes has disadvantages that causes higher solid retention time
in the reactor.
3. Separate reactor conditions are needed for anaerobic process,
however partial phase separation could be achieved in UASB,
anaerobic filter, and expanded bed reactor.
4. Organic loading, pH and alkalinity, SRT and HRT, nutrients, oxidant
and toxic substances affect the performance of the anaerobic process.
5. Frequency of monitoring is important for process improvement. A drop
in pH, increase in VFA/alkalinity ratio and increase of VFA in effluent
alarms the process failure.