Abstract
Performance was evaluated and compared in two lab-scale mesophilic methanogenic complete mix reactors (RMC1, RMC2) and a methanogenic fluidized bed reactor (RANLEF) for removal of perchloroethylene (PCE) when fed a moderate concentration of methanol The RMCs and RANLEF were operated at loading rates of 0.07 and 1gCOD·l -1·d -1, and hydraulic retention times of 15 and 1 day, respectively. The experimental design consisted of three periods of operation: methanogenic regime with methanol as carbon source (1): same with acclimation to 20 (2.1) or 40mgPCE·l -1 (2.2); and same with 40mgPCE·l -1 in RANLEF and RMC1 and 20 mgPCE·l -1 in RMC2 (3). In the first period both PCE and COD removals were higher in RANLEF; biogas CH 4 content and chloride increase were similar in the three reactors. During period 2.2, PCE removal increased up, to 81% in RANLEF, suggesting a good acclimation to the higher inflow PCE concentration; COD reduction remained high, and CH 4 in biogas indicated a satisfactory methanogenic regime. The RMCs experienced drastic performance impairments upon increase of inflow PCE (20 to 40mg·l -1), and RMC1 was returned to operate with 20mgPCE·l -1. RMC2 performance remained poor, showing a drastic deterioration of methanogenesis and PCE removal. By contrast, RMC1 with 20mgPCE·l -1 re-covered from the negative transient state and exhibited similar performance to that of RANLEF fed 40mg·l -1. In period 3, RANLEF with 40mg·l -1 and RMC1 with 20mg·l -1 showed similar performances, whereas RMC2 kept with 40mg·l -1 exhibited impaired COD removal, lower biogas productivity and CH 4 biogas content, but a PCE removal very close to RANLEF and RMC1. The dehalogenation efficiency of RMC2 was significantly lower than that of the RANLEF, which appears to be a more robust and stable anaerobic process for the effective removal of high concentrations of PCE.
Translated title of the contribution | Perchloroethylene removal in two anaerobic continuous systems |
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Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 562-567+594-596 |
Journal | Interciencia |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 10 |
State | Published - Oct 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |