Critical performance analysis of four full-scale anaerobic wastewater processes

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of four full-scale anaerobic reactors located in Marmara region of Turkey. Further removal of residual Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the effluent of those reactors was studied. In addition, the effects of micro nutrients iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and macro nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on the performance of acetate and propionate utilizing anaerobic microorganisms procured from those reactors were determined. The results indicate that the anaerobic reactors investigated operate under optimal conditions in terms of nutrient supplementation. The residual COD in the effluent of Tekel-Pasabahce anaerobic reactor can be further reduced by 73% within two days of anaerobic incubation. Similarly, residual COD from the anaerobic reactor of Tekel-Pasabahce Plant can be fur-ther degraded under anaerobic conditions by 41% within two days. However, further degradation of residual COD in the effluent of Pakmaya and Modern Kartonsan reactors degrade rather slowly, achieving 35 and 14% further removal, respectively, within two days.