Low cost-treatment for sulfate removal is required in many areas where potable water is scarce. The biggest challenge in biological treatment is finding an abundant low or no-cost carbon source. This work demonstrated for the first time that leachate from the agricultural byproduct silage can be used in an upflow anaerobic sludge-bed bioreactor to reduce sulfate for on-farm water treatment. The reactor ran continuously for approximately one year with an average silage leachate feed COD concentration of 4,471 ± 857 mg L−1, and sulfate feed concentrations varying from 1,253 to 2,081 mg L−1. The maximum sulfate reduction rate (SRR) of 9.75 ± 0.23 mmol (L day)−1 was achieved at the high sulfate influent concentration and the amount of organics consumed was between 80–90%. Sulfide levels in the UASB bioreactor were consistently high for most of the experiment, averaging 516.6 ± 188.5 mg L−1. Interestingly, during the last month of operation when sulfide concentrations were highest the SRR continued to increase. It was estimated that 36% of the silage leachate carbon was used directly for sulfate reduction.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 01 2011
A UASB bioreactor using silage as a carbon source to reduce sulfate Available to Purchase
Winton Li;
Winton Li
1Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z3, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Susan A. Baldwin
1Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z3, Canada
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2011) 11 (2): 229–237.
Article history
Received:
March 11 2011
Accepted:
May 05 2011
Citation
Winton Li, Susan A. Baldwin; A UASB bioreactor using silage as a carbon source to reduce sulfate. Water Supply 1 April 2011; 11 (2): 229–237. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2011.046
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00