METHANE PRODUCTION THROUGH 2-PHASE ANAERO BIC TREATMENT OF WASTE-WATER CONTAINING CELLULOSE WITH HIGH SOLID CONTENT AND SOME EASILY DIGESTIBLE ORGANIC-MATTER

The continuous two - phase anaerobic treatment of highly concentrated waste-water containing insoluble cellulose powder together with easily digestible substances such as starch and glucose was studied. Three k inds of acidogenic-phase reactors, i.e. packed bed, empty tube and sti rred tank types, and four kinds of methanogenic-phase fermenters, i.e. tank and three kinds of packed beds, were used. In all acidogenic-pha se reactors, even though the easily digestible substrates were contain ed in wastewater at high concentration, the digestibility of cellulose was promoted by symbiosis of methanogens. The methanogenic activity w as enhanced in the presence of cell-growth substances such as polypept one. The highest gas yield was obtained at about a 10 C/N ratio. The g as yield in every methanogenic-phase fermenter was a minority of the t wo-phase (total system) COD balance. That is the performance of the tw o-phase anaerobic treatment of waste cellulose was largely determined by that of the acidogenic phase.