BIOMASS LOSS FROM AN ANAEROBIC FLUIDIZED-BED REACTOR

The phenomena of biomass loss during reactor startup and steady-state operation of an anaerobic fluidized bed (AFB) reactor using porous med ia particles and fed with acetic acid are studied. The amount of bioma ss lost during reactor startup is found to be correlated to both subst rate utilization and biogas production. However, the level of biomass lost does not impede reactor startup and a rapid buildup of attached b iomass in the reactor is attainable. Under the fluidization conditions commonly found in steady-state AFB reactors, mechanical attrition cau sed by interparticle collision is unlikely to alter the balance establ ished between bacterial growth and maintenance metabolism. Copyright ( C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.