Summary
The ability of methanogenic bacteria to adapt to high concentrations of aluminium was investigated using a 9 ℓ Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor fed semi-continuously with a synthetic waste containing glucose as the organic carbon source. It was found that an influent concentration of 2500 mg/ℓ Al3+ could be tolerated by acclimatized methanogenic bacteria. However, if the concentration in the synthetic waste was further increased, inhibition of the methanogens resulted, with a corresponding decrease in digester performance. The aluminium precipitated as Al(OH)3 and accumulated in the sludge bed of the digester.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
APHA, AWWA, WPCF (1980). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 15th Ed. Washinton, D.C.
Hunter, J.B., Ross, S.L. and Tannahill, J. (1980). Wat. Poll. Control 79, 413–420.
Jackson-Moss, C.A., Duncan, J.R. and Cooper, D.R. (1988). JALCA 83, 389–395.
Jackson-Moss, C.A., Duncan, J.R. and Cooper, D.R. (1989). Biotechnol. Letters 11, 219–224
Macdonald, T.L. and Martin, R.B. (1988). Trends in Biol. Sci. 13, 15–19.
Perl, D. and Brody, A.R. (1980). Science 208, 297–299.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jackson-Moss, C.A., Duncan, J.R. The effect of aluminium on Anaerobic digestion. Biotechnol Lett 13, 143–148 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01030466
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01030466