Methodology for determination of anaerobic digestion kinetics using a bench top digester

This paper presents a methodology for determining the microbial growth kinetics of an ideal anaerobic process in a non-ideal laboratory anaerobic digester (Armfield). Some laboratory experiments were performed, to confirm the proposed methodology. Having the same zero biomass concentration, some process parameters were changed and their influence on substrate outlet concentration was monitored. The specific growth rate of the biomass, the saturation constant of the substrate, and the yield coefficient were calculated, on the basis of the measured values. These parameters enabled us to perform a dynamic simulation of an anaerobic process in ideal continuously-stirred tank reactors (CSTR). The results represented the mass concentration profiles for substrate and biomass, from which the time required for reaching the steady state (60 d), where the operation is optimal, could be determined.The laboratory anaerobic digester provided operational process data, which are applicable for wastewater treatment plant design purposes.