Effect of organic loading rate on anaerobic digestion process of wastewaters from the washing of olives prior to the oil production process in a fluidized bed reactor

Authors

  • Rafael Borja Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC).
  • José Alba Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC).
  • Antonio Martín Departamento de Ingeniería Química. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Córdoba.
  • Angela Mancha Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/gya.1998.v49.i1.707

Keywords:

Anaerobic digestion, Continuous regime, Fluidized bed, Olive, Waste water from washing.

Abstract


A study of the anaerobic digestion process of wastewaters from the washing of olives prior to the oil production process was carried out in a fluidized bed reactor with sepiolite immobilised biomass at 35°G. The bioreactor worked satisfactorily using Influent COD concentrations of 4.5,3.5,2.5 and 1.5 g COD/I for a hydraulic retention time (HRT) range of 4.5 to 1,25 days. COD removal efficiencies in the range 50-90% were achieved in the reactor, when evaluated at organic loading rates of between 0.46 and 2.25 g COD/I day using the highest influent substrate concentration (So = 4.5 g COD/I). COD and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration were Increased In parallel with the increase of organic loading rate in the reactor, VFA concentration showing a maximum value of 1.55 g acetic acid/I at the most unfavourable case studied (So = 4,5 g COD/I and HRT = 1.25 days). The increase in effluent VFA concentrations was always counteracted by the high alkalinity values (3440-4670 mg CaCO3/l) which brought about the high stability of the process and values of the alkalinity/VFA ratio lower than 0.3-0.5, except for the above-mentioned case, limit value over which the anaerobic process is destabilized. The yield coefficient of methane production was 0.281 methane STP/g COD removed.

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Published

1998-02-28

How to Cite

1.
Borja R, Alba J, Martín A, Mancha A. Effect of organic loading rate on anaerobic digestion process of wastewaters from the washing of olives prior to the oil production process in a fluidized bed reactor. Grasas aceites [Internet]. 1998Feb.28 [cited 2024Mar.29];49(1):42-9. Available from: https://grasasyaceites.revistas.csic.es/index.php/grasasyaceites/article/view/707

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Section

Research