10.25676/11124/171209
Lucio, Daniel
Daniel
Lucio
Pfluger, Andrew
Andrew
Pfluger
Callahan, Jennie
Jennie
Callahan
Van Houghton, Brett
Brett
Van Houghton
Munakata Marr, Junko
Junko
Munakata Marr
Figueroa, Linda A.
Linda A.
Figueroa
From poop to gold: an examination of energy-positive wastewater treatment in an anaerobic reactor system
Mountain Scholar
2017
Text
Colorado School Of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library
Colorado School Of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library
2017-07-27
2017-07-27
2017
en
https://hdl.handle.net/11124/171209
http://dx.doi.org/10.25676/11124/171209
posters
Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.
Today’s current best practices for wastewater treatment involve aerobic processes that require substantial amounts of energy. Best practice aerobic wastewater treatment facilities with anaerobic digestion of biosolids are able to produce 500-700 kWh/MG, which is approximately one-third to one-half of the 1500-2000 kWh/MG used to operate the facility. On the other hand, primary anaerobic treatment has the potential to be energy-positive by using methane gas produced by anaerobic microbial communities in the system. Previous results from the pilot-scale four-compartment anaerobic hybrid reactor (anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) – anaerobic fixed film reactor (AFFR)) at Mines Park suggest that the multiple-compartment configuration enhances COD and TSS removal while generating stoichiometric amounts of methane. Additional advantages of anaerobic wastewater treatment in multiple-compartment reactors include the production of less biosolids and low energy usage. The purpose of this research is to characterize the ABR-AFFR for COD removal, TSS removal, and methane generation during the month of July when high temperatures (22-25 ˚C) are observed. COD and TSS removal is compared to the EPA 7-day secondary standards (45 mg BOD5/L and 45 mg TSS/L). Methane flowrate is also evaluated for trends and converted to theoretical energy values. Results suggest that the ABR-AFFR is able to achieve the 7-day EPA secondary standards for BOD5 and TSS under summer conditions, while generating enough methane to theoretically power the reactor system.