Elizabeth León-Becerril

An assessment of an anaerobic filter packed with a low-cost material for treating domestic wastewater

The lack of available technologies that assembled both the technical and economical characteristics for domestic wastewater treatment is a major problem for rural communities. In response to this issue, a technical assessment of an up-flow anaerobic filter (UAF) was carried out in the laboratory to treat domestic wastewater. Tezontle, a volcanic rock, was used as the packing media and as the support for the biofilm. It was selected due to its abundance, low cost and high porosity. The UAF assessment was based on an experimental design of two variables, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature, with three and four levels of operation, respectively. Each test at HRT of 12, 18 and 24 h was carried out at temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. Methane production rates were 32.4, 110 and 191 mL of CH4/g of chemical oxygen demand removed for HRT of 12, 18 and 24 h, respectively, at a temperature of 35°C. In order to reach a high removal of organic matter (higher than 80%) the optimum operational conditions for the UAF were HRT=24 h and T=35°C. The temperature was the determining factor for achieving the greatest removal efficiencies in the UAF.

Influence of alkalinity and VFAs on the performance of an UASB reactor with recirculation for the treatment of Tequila vinasses

The main problem linked to the stability of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors during the treatment of Tequila vinasse is the high acidity and the null alkalinity present in this effluent. This research evaluates the effect of alkalinity and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration on the performance of an UASB reactor with recirculation of the effluent for removing organic matter and biogas production from Tequila vinasses. Recirculation of the effluent reduces the impact of VFAs and organic matter concentration present in the influent, inducing the stability of the reactor. The UASB reactor was operated during 235 days at organic loading rates from 2.5 to 20.0 kg m−3 d−1, attaining a removal efficiency of COD greater than 75% with a methane yield of 335 ml CH4 g−1 COD at SPT, maintaining a ratio of VFAs/Alk ≤ 0.5. Therefore, an optimal ratio of VFAs/Alk was established for the system operating in stable conditions for the treatment of Tequila vinasses. Under these conditions, the alkalinity was recuperated by the system itself, without the addition of external alkalinity.