A. Gangagni Rao

Biomethanation of poultry litter leachate in UASB reactor coupled with ammonia stripper for enhancement of overall performance.

In the present study possibility of coupling stripper to remove ammonia to the UASB reactor treating poultry litter leachate was studied to enhance the overall performance of the reactor. UASB reactor with stripper as ammonia inhibition control mechanism exhibited better performance in terms of COD reduction (96%), methane yield (0.26m(3)CH(4)/kg COD reduced), organic loading rate (OLR) (18.5kg COD m(-3)day(-1)) and Hydraulic residence time (HRT) (12h) compared to the UASB reactor without stripper (COD reduction: 92%; methane yield: 0.21m(3)CH(4)/kg COD reduced; OLR: 13.6kg CODm(-3)day(-1); HRT: 16h). The improved performance was due to the reduction of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) in the range of 75-95% and 80-95%, respectively by the use of stripper. G/L (air flow rate/poultry leachate flow rate) in the range of 60-70 and HRT in the range of 7-9min are found to be optimum parameters for the operation of the stripper.

Multi stage high rate biomethanation of poultry litter with self mixed anaerobic digester

A multi stage high rate biomethanation process with novel self mixed anaerobic digester (SMAD) was developed in the present study to reduce the hydraulic residence time (HRT), increase the volatile solids (VS) loading rate, improve the VS destruction efficiency and enhance the methane yield. Specific design features of SMAD were useful in mixing the digester contents without consuming power and de-alienated the problem of scum formation. In the first phase, poultry litter having 10% total solids (TS) was subjected to high rate biomethanation in multi stage configuration (SMAD-I and II in series with UASB reactor). It was observed that gross VS reduction of 58%, gross methane yield of 0.16 m3 kg(-1) (VS reduced) and VS loading rate of 3.5 kg VS m(-3) day(-1) at HRT of 13 days was obtained. In the second phase SMAD-II was bypassed from the process scheme keeping the other parameters same as in the first phase. The results obtained were not as encouraging as in the first phase. The study showed that multi stage configuration with SMAD design improved the anaerobic digestion process efficiency of poultry litter.

Gas phase bio-filter for the removal of triethylamine (TEA) from air: microbial diversity analysis with reference to design parameters.

Biotic (packed bio-filter; PBF) and abiotic (packed filter; PF) studies were carried out on two similar 2L gas phase filters for the removal of triethylamine (TEA) at inlet concentration in the range of 250-280 ppmV. Removal efficiency (RE) of PBF remained in the range of 90-99% during the stable period of operation (170 days) whereas RE of PF dropped gradually to 10% in a span of 90 days. Five different bacterial species viz; Aeromonas sp., Alcaligenes sp., Arthrobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., and Pseudomonas sp., were identified in PBF. It was observed that diethyl amine, ethylamine and nitrate were formed as metabolites during the degradation pathway. Empty bed residence time of 20s, mass loading rate of 202.26 g/m(3)/h, space velocity of 178.82 m(3)/m(3)/h and elimination capacity of 201.52 g/m(3)/h were found to be optimum design parameters for PBF to get RE in the range of 90-99%.

Decentralized application of anaerobic digesters in small poultry farms: Performance analysis of high rate self mixed anaerobic digester and conventional fixed dome anaerobic digester

Biomethanation of poultry litter was studied in conventional fixed dome anaerobic digester (CFDAD) and high rate self mixed anaerobic digester (SMAD) for possible decentralized application in poultry farms generating litter in the range of 500 kg/day. The performance of CFDAD and SMAD was compared. The study revealed that optimized hydraulic residence time (HRT), volatile solids (VS) loading rate, VS reduction, methane yield was 24 days, 4.0 kg VS/m(3)/day, 64%, 0.15 m(3)/(kg VS fed) and 40 days, 2.15 kg/m(3)/day, 42%, 0.083 m(3)/(kg VS fed) for SMAD and CFDAD, respectively. Better results with SMAD could be attributed to specific design features and intermittent mixing of the digester contents due to self-mixing mechanism. Preliminary cost estimates revealed that installation of SMAD would be remunerative for the farmer in terms of biogas and bio-manure.

Mass transfer dynamics of ammonia in high rate biomethanation of poultry litter leachate

In the present study possibility of coupling biofilter to arrest ammonia (NH(3)) emission to the atmosphere from the integrated UASB and stripper (UASB+ST) system treating poultry litter leachate was studied. UASB+ST with biofilter (UASB+ST+BF) exhibited removal efficiency (RE) of NH(3) in the range of 98-99% (below 28 ppmV (parts per million by volume)) with low cost agricultural residue as a bedding material. Mass transfer dynamics of TAN in the system revealed that TAN loss to atmosphere was below 1% in UASB+ST+BF where as it was in the range of 70-90% in UASB+ST. Cost estimates revealed that financial implications due to the addition of biofilter were below 10% of total capital cost. TAN retained in the bedding material of biofilter could also be utilized as soil conditioner upon saturation.

Generation of bioethanol and VFA through anaerobic acidogenic fermentation route with press mud obtained from sugar mill as a feedstock

Acidogenic anaerobic fermentation route was explored for the production of bioethanol and volatile fatty acids (VFA) from the press mud (PM) obtained from sugar mill. Slurry was prepared from PM having 10% of total solids and the same was hydrolyzed under acidic thermal conditions. Both press mud slurry (PMS) and pre-treated press mud slurry (PTPMS) was used as feedstock with mixed microbial consortia (MMC) and enriched mixed microbial consortia (EMMC). Mix of bioethanol and VFA were obtained in all the four cases (PMS-MMC, PMS-EMMC, PTPMS-EMC and PTPMS-EMMC), but, bioethanol and VFA yield of 0.04 g/g and 0.27 g/g, respectively obtained from PTPMS with EMMC was found to be comparatively higher. Control experiments carried out with glucose yielded bioethanol and VFA of 0.042 g/g and 0.28 g/g, respectively demonstrating that the organism was using reducible sugars in the feedstock for the generation of bioethanol by simultaneously producing the VFA from COD.

Removal of Air Containing Tri Ethyl Amine (TEA) Using Vapor Phase Biofilter Packed With Wood Chips and Rice Husk

Mixed bacterial strains named as AGR/IICT/1- 5B was isolated from the active sludge of ETP of a polymerization industry. Strains AGR/IICT/1-5B was primarily identified as 3 gram positive and 2 gram negative bacteria. These strains were used for the abatement of TEA in bio filters. Experiments were conducted on biofilter having the working volume of 1.2 L. Microorganism was immobilized on mixture of wood chips and rice husk (1:1 v/v) which is used as the filter medium. The biofilter was operated at the following conditions; Temperature 30±1°C, pH values in the range of 7.0 -7.6, Loading rate at 1-144 g m -3 h -1 , EBRT at 20-40 s, moisture content at 50-59%. Removal efficiency in the range of 90-95% was obtained during the study.