Toxicity of Sodium and Potassium Ions on Performance of UASB System

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicity of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions on performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system. Three laboratory-scale UASB reactors, 15.8 - l working volume, were employed with 1 reactor operated as control. They were loaded at organic loading rate (OLR) of 5 kg COD/(m³-d), treating synthetic wastewater with COD concentration ~ 5000 mg/l. Na⁺ and K⁺ ions were added in the range of 1010 - 7180 and 41 - 7320 mg/l, respectively. No toxicity was observed at influent Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations up to 3340 and 2750 mg/l, respectively. Slight inhibitions on COD removal were founded at Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations of 4610 and 3920 mg/l, respectively, but moderate effect on biogas production had occurred. When Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were increased to 7180 and 7320 mg/l, respectively, strong inhibitions were observed with COD removal dropped to 45.5 and 48.8 %, respectively. Ratios of biogas productions, as compared to the control reactor, were dropped to 0.31 and 0.32, respectively. Increasing cation concentrations had more detrimental effect on biogas production than COD removal.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 953-954)
• Pages: 1105-1108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.953-954.1105
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Seni Karnchanawong, Kraiwet Kabtum
• Keywords: Biogas, COD Removal, Potassium, Sodium, UASB System

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