Anaerobic reactor with a phase separator for enhancing sulfide removal from wastewater by gas stripping

Abstract

An internal phase-separated reactor (IPSR) was developed to remove sulfide from wastewater by gas stripping using biogas produced in the reactor itself. This reactor consisted of a first stage in an upper segment, a phase separator using a gas–liquid partitioning (GLP) valve, and a second stage in a lower segment. The IPSR is proposed as a new reactor structure. Reactors with and without GLP valves were operated in parallel at 35 °C. Synthetic wastewater with a sulfate concentration of 800 mg S/L was fed into the reactors at an organic loading rate of 10 kg COD/(m3 day). The IPSR removed more hydrogen sulfide than the control reactor because of the biogas supplied through the GLP valve. The reduction in the H2S in the IPSR was 39 % to 50 % more than that in the control reactor, and the IPSR reduced the sulfide concentration in the effluent by 19 % more than the control reactor.