Abstract

SARTI, A.; FORESTI, E.  and  ZAIAT, M.. Evaluation of a mechanistic mathematical model of a packed-bed anaerobic reactor treating wastewater. Lat. Am. appl. res. [online]. 2004, vol.34, n.2, pp.127-132. ISSN 0327-0793.

A mechanistic mathematical model is proposed and evaluated for simulating the performance of a bench-scale packed-bed anaerobic reactor that uses polyurethane foam as biomass support. The model developed under rational criteria was based on the study of mass transfer and biochemical kinetics, also considering the hydrodynamic characteristics of the reactor. The data generated by the model adhered well to the experimental data obtained from the operation of the reactor applied to the treatment of a glucosebased substrate. The liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient was found to be the main parameter in the model, and its precise estimation is essential for the model to be successfully applied. Additionally, a case study was used in order to verify the applicability of the model for designing full-scale reactors. The simulations performed permitted to demonstrate the importance of the choice of convenient liquid superficial velocity and polyurethane foam matrix size which have direct influence on the solid- and liquid-phase mass transfers resistance and, consequently on the volume of the designed reactor.

Keywords : Wastewater treatment; anaerobic process; packed-bed reactor; HAIB reactor; performance simulation.

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