LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE ANAEROBIC BIOSORPTION PROCESS

Biological solids have significant potential for sorption of soluble o rganic matter from wastewater streams. The anaerobic biosorption proce ss uses the sorption capabilities of active biomass for the treatment of wastewater. Biosorption is a rapid process. Approximately 40% remov al of organic matter was obtained in only 15 minutes after the substra te was brought into contact with the biomass. Anaerobic biomass was gr own in 10-L source reactor; operated at a constant temperature of 35 d egrees C. Biosorption experiments were performed with active biomass i n 2-L batch reactors using synthetic milk as a substrate. The effects of mixing times, temperature, substrate concentration, biomass concent ration, and granular biomass particle size were investigated. Temperat ure studies indicated increased uptake at higher temperature than at l ower temperature. It was observed that wastes at temperatures as low a s 7 degrees C could be biosorbed without the application of external h eat. Higher removals were obtained with the small granular biomass tha n with the large granules. Increasing the biomass concentration result ed in an increase in the percentage removal of organic matter. The res ults were expressed in terms of adsorption isotherms.