Date

4-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jovita L. Movillon

Co-adviser

Rex B. Demafelis

Committee Member

Monet Conception C. Maguyon, Amelia E. Parao

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion was employed to examine the effects of increasing OLR (800,1000 and 1200mg/L-day) and initial pH of the substrate on pH, gas production, and %COD reduction using filter bed reactor. An upflow filter bed reactor with an effective volume capacity of 5.0 L was fabricated using stainless steel caped with 0.63cm (0.25 in.)-thick plexiglass. The cylindrical reactor had dimensions of 11.9cm (4.7 in)-I.D. and total height of 54cm. 9cm of the total height was the 20% void volume or headspace. The total volume of the reactor was 6.0L with a headspace volume of 1.0L. The effluent of the reactor was collected daily for analysis. The characteristics of the wastewater generated from Acid Esterification and NaOH-Methanol Transesterification of Jatropha curcas L. oil were analyzed. The substrate had a COD of 61,465mg/L (considered to be high strength), BOD of 35,563mg/L and a highly acidic pH of 4.23. Increasing OLR (pH of substrate=7.0) caused some fluctuations in pH and temperature but the range was still amenable for anaerobic digestion. The %COD reduction from OLR of 800 to 1000mg/L-day decreased but eventually increased at OLR of 1200mg/L-day. Highest %COD reduction (90.16%) and good gas production were achieved in filter bed reactor at OLR of 1200mg/L-day. Increasing the initial pH of the substrate at OLR of 1200mg/L-day still made fluctuations on pH and temperature. %COD reduction and gas production decreased com pared to a pH substrate equal to 7.0. With a 90.016%COD reduction and good gas production, the anaerobic filter bed reactor is considered to be efficient.

Language

English

LC Subject

Anaerobic wastewater treatment.

Call Number

LG 993 2009 E62 A46

Document Type

Thesis

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