Control of dissolved CH4 in a municipal UASB reactor effluent by means of a desorption – Biofiltration arrangement

Huete, A., de los Cobos-Vasconcelos, D., Gomez Borraz, T. , Morgan-Sagastume, J. M. and Noyola, A. (2018) Control of dissolved CH4 in a municipal UASB reactor effluent by means of a desorption – Biofiltration arrangement. Journal of Environmental Management, 216, pp. 383-391. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.06.061) (PMID:28701283)

Abstract

The direct anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater represents an adapted technology to the conditions of developing countries. In order to get an increased acceptance of this technology, a proper control of dissolved methane in the anaerobic effluents should be considered, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas. In this study, a pilot-scale system was operated for 168 days to recover dissolved methane from an effluent of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and then oxidize it in a compost biofilter. The system operated at a constant air (0.9 m3/h ±0.09) and two air-to anaerobic effluent ratio (1:1 and 1:2). In both conditions (CH4 concentration of 2.7 ± 0.87 and 4.3% ± 1.14, respectively) the desorption column recovered 99% of the dissolved CH4 and approximately 30% ± 8.5 of H2S, whose desorption was limited due to the high pH (>8) of the effluent. The biofilter removed 70% ± 8 of the average CH4 load (60 gCH4/m3h ± 13) and 100% of the H2S load at an empty bed retention time of 23 min. The average temperature inside the biofilter was 42 ± 9 °C due to the CH4 oxidation reaction, indicating that temperature and moisture control is particularly important for CH4 removal in compost biofilters. The system may achieve a 54% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from dissolved CH4 in this particular case.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gomez Borraz, Dr Tania
• Authors: Huete, A., de los Cobos-Vasconcelos, D., Gomez Borraz, T., Morgan-Sagastume, J. M., and Noyola, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Management
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-4797
• Published Online: 09 July 2017