Abstract
This study investigated the performance and stability of an anaerobic baffled filter reactor in the treatment of algae-laden water from Taihu Lake at several organic loading rates. The study also evaluated the capability of soft filler to train granule sludge and improve the anaerobic environment and sludge activity in the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), thereby enhancing the treatment efficiency. The ABR consisted of five rectangular compartments, each of which was 120 cm long, 80 cm wide, 80 cm high, and packed with soft filler. The anaerobic baffled filter reactor was found to be an efficient reactor configuration for the treatment of algae-laden water. The reactor was operated at an organic loading rate of 1.5 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(m3d) and an ambient temperature of 30 °C; under these conditions, the COD removal efficiency was 80% and the biogas production rate was 293 mL/(Ld). Moreover, the soft filler increased the biomass retention time and decreased the rate at which solids were washed out from the reactor, promoting an improved spatial distribution of the microbial communities within the compartments. Methanoregula, Methanobacteriaceae, Methanosaeta, Methanoculleu, and Thermogymnomonas were the dominant archaeal species in each compartment during an operational period of approximately 100 days. The protease activity in the reactor decreased longitudinally down the reactor from Compartments 1 to 5, whereas the activity of coenzyme F420 increased. The soft filler played a key role in successfully treating algae-laden water with the anaerobic baffled filter reactor.
Highlights
The presence of excess nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, in lakes and reservoirs has been a major factor stimulating blue-green algal blooms [1]
The anaerobic baffled filter reactor, combined with the biofilm attached to the soft filler and the granular sludge suspended at the bottom of the reactor, promoted microbial selection and zoning
The main objectives of this study were to examine the treatment of algae-laden water using an anaerobic baffled filter reactor and to elucidate the microbial phase in the system during the experiments
Summary
The presence of excess nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, in lakes and reservoirs has been a major factor stimulating blue-green algal blooms [1]. Water pollution caused by the excessive growth of blue-green algae has become a growing environmental problem. One current approach to reducing the algae in Taihu Lake is to refloat the algae after a bloom has occurred [3,4]. A salvage ship takes up water-laden algae in quantities that can reach several thousand cubic meters per day. These large quantities of algae-laden water could have serious secondary environmental effects, including the pollution of groundwater, air, and soil without sufficing and effective algae-laden water treatments [5]
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