Abstract

PARRA HUERTAS, Ricardo Adolfo. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF WHEY: EFFECT OF HIGH POINT LOADS. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2010, vol.63, n.1, pp.5385-5394. ISSN 0304-2847.

Anaerobic treatment technology was developed for wastewater treatment mainly of dietary origin. The work was aimed at determining the behavior of the anaerobic treatment system when incorporating whey high point loads. Acid whey was used, which fed the two-stage system, and anaerobic biofilter reactor UASB. 3 charges were handled constant of 5,200 mg COD / L.day, 7,800 mg COD / L.day and 10.500 mg COD / L.day; on each charge is applied 3 point charges whey acid: 5,700 mg COD / L.day, 26,300 mg COD / L.day and 34,200 mg COD / L.day, each with a duration of 24 hours. The hydraulic retention time of the system was 2.9 days, the pH value for the influent of constant point charges was 7.0 and adding sodium bicarbonate prior to the effluent, the pH at constant loads was 7.6 and 7.7 for loads point. The operating temperature was in the range of 15-20 °C. In the constant loads (CC) elimination of COD was 57% and point charges (PC) 82%. Sugar efficiency was 99% in CA and PC. Protein removal was 64% for CC and CP 89%. Volatile fatty acids in the CC had a concentration of 403 mg/L in the influent and effluent concentration of 3,156 mg/L in the influent introduced the CP concentration of 572 mg/L and the effluent 4,492 mg/L. The two-stage system endured until the point charges 6.5 times the constant load without reducing their efficiency; however, the efficiencies in the response variable were above the constant organic loads, noting that the proposed scheme is a good option for treatment with whey wastewater discharges could bear pure whey, so it can be recommended for cheese producers.

Keywords : Reactors; anaerobic digestion; whey; load; efficiency.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )