Biokinetics of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating whey permeate

Abstract

A laboratory study was performed to determine the kinetic model and to evaluate kinetic coefficients of continuous upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors treating whey permeate. Eight hydraulic retention times (5.0-0.4 day) were investigated at fixed influent substrate concentration (10.4+/-0.2 g COD/litre). The maximum substrate utilization rate, k, and half saturation coefficient, K(L), were determined to be 0.941 kg COD(rmvd)/kg VSS/day and 0.773 kg COC/kg VSS/day. The yield coefficient, Y, and sludge decay rate coefficient, K(d), were also determined to be 0.153 kg VSS/kg COD and 0.022/day, respectively.