The effect of omitting nickel from the influent on methanol conversion in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) reactor was investigated. The UASB reactor (30°C, pH 7) was operated for 261 days at a 12-h hydraulic retention time (HRT) and at organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from 2.6 to 7.8 g COD l reactor−1 day−1. The nickel content of the sludge decreased by 66% during the 261-day reactor run because of washout and doubling of the sludge bed volume. Nickel deprivation initially had a strong impact on the methanogenic activity of the sludge with methanol; e.g., after 89 days of operation, this activity was doubled by adding 2 μM nickel. Upon prolonged UASB reactor operation, methanol and VFA effluent concentrations decreased whereas the sludge lost its response to nickel addition in activity tests. This suggests that a less nickel-dependent methanol-converting sludge had developed in the UASB reactor.
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Received 09 April 2002/ Accepted in revised form 13 July 2002
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Zandvoort, M., Osuna, M., Geerts, R. et al. Effect of nickel deprivation on methanol degradation in a methanogenic granular sludge bioreactor. J Ind Microbiol Biotech 29, 268–274 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.7000311
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.7000311