METHANOGENESIS AND SULFATE REDUCTION IN CHEMOSTATS .2. MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND VERIFICATION

A comprehensive dynamic model is presented that simulates methanogenes is and sulfate reduction in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) . This model incorporates the complex chemistry of anaerobic systems. A salient feature of the model is its ability to predict the effluent concentrations of the various chemical species in the reactor directly from the feed conditions. Precipitation equilibria of the essential m etals were also incorporated in the model. Model predictions were comp ared with results from steady-state and batch spike experiments. A det ailed sensitivity analysis of the effect of key model parameters on mo del performance was conducted. The model was able to predict both the steady-state and the transient batch spike experimental data fairly we ll.