Biological sulfate removal from acrylic fiber manufacturing wastewater using a two-stage UASB reactor
Jin Li , Jun Wang
,
Zhaokun Luan
,
Zhongguang Ji
,
Lian Yu
DOI:10.1016/S1001-0742(11)60772-9
Received January 11, 2011,Revised March 11, 2011, Accepted , Available online February 10, 2012
Volume 24,2012,Pages 343-350
A two-stage UASB reactor was employed to remove sulfate from acrylic fiber manufacturing wastewater. Mesophilic operation (35±0.5℃) was performed with hydraulic retention time (HRT) varied between 28 and 40 hr. Mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in the reactor was maintained about 8000 mg/L. The results indicated that sulfate removal was enhanced with increasing the ratio of COD/SO42-. At low COD/SO42-, the growth of the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was carbon-limited. The optimal sulfate removal efficiencies were 75% when the HRT was no less than 38 hr. Sulfidogenesis mainly happened in the sulfate-reducing stage, while methanogenesis in the methane-producing stage. Microbes in sulfate-reducing stage performed granulation better than that in methane-producing stage. Higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content in sulfate-reducing stage helped to adhere and connect the flocculent sludge particles together. SRB accounted for about 31% both in sulfate-reducing stage and methane-producing stage at COD/SO42- ratio of 0.5, while it dropped dramatically from 34% in sulfate-reducing stage to 10% in methane-producing stage corresponding to the COD/SO42- ratio of 4.7. SRB and MPA were predominant in sulfate-reducing stage and methane-producing stage respectively.
