Summary
The use of a continuous tower fermenter for the anaerobic digestion of cane juice stillage, with chemical flocculant addition to accumulate biomass, is reported. While stable and efficient treatment was achieved at relatively high loading rates (>5kg COD m−3 day−1) an operational limit was reached which restricted the maximum loading rate attainable. This was due to the composition of the cane juice stillage (predominantly high sulphate levels). Following nutrient assessment, continuous iron addition improved digester performance substantially. However, in the long term, this solution was not commercially practical due to excessive FeS precipitation which increased flocculant requirement. It is concluded that significant improvements in the loading rates achievable in this system would likely result from the digestion of (normal) low sulphur stillage.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Basu, A.K. and Leclerc, E. (1972), Adv. Wat. Pollut. Res.6, 581.
Braun, R. and Huss, S. (1981), Dept. Applied Micro., Univ. Aar. Forestry, Vienna, Austria.
Cail, R.G. and Barford, J.P. (1983a) Biotechnol. Lett. (in preparation).
Cail, R.G. and Barford, J.P. (1983b) Biotechnol . Lett. (in preparation).
Callander, I.J. (1983), Ph.D. Thesis, University of Sydney.
Callander, I.J. and Barford, J.P. (1983a), Biotechnol. Lett.,5 (3), 147.
Callander, I.J. and Barford, J.P. (1983b), Biotechnol. Lett.,5 (3), 153.
Callander, I.J. and Barford, J.P. (1983c), Agr. Wastes (sub. for publication).
Callander, I.J. and Barford, J.P. (1983d), Biotechnol. Bioeng.25, 1947.
Callander, I.J. and Barford, J.P. (1983e), Biotechnol. Bioeng.25, 1959.
Halbert, E.J. and Barnes, C.S. (1980), Proc. 16th Conf. Inst. of Brew. (Aust), 219.
Hiatt, W.C., Carr, A.D. and Andrews, J.F. (,1973), Proc. 28th Ind. Waste Conf. Perdue, 966.
Lawrence, A.W., McCarty, P.L., and Guerin, F.J.A. (1964), Prod. 19th Ind. Waste Conf. Perdue, 343.
Prince, I.G. and Barford, J.P. (1982a), Biotechnol. Lett.,4 (4), 263.
Prince, I.G. and Barford, J.P. (1982b), Biotechnol. Lett.,4 (7), 469.
Prince, I.G. and Barford, J.P. (1982c), Biotechnol, Lett.,4 (8), 525.
Prince, I.G. and Barford, J.P. (1982d), Biotechnol. Lett.,4 (10), 621.
Radhakrishnan, J., De, S.B. and Nath, B. (1969), J. Wat. Pollut. Cont. Fed.,41 (2), R431.
Roth, L.A. and Lentz, C.P. (1977), Can. Inst. Food Sci. Technol. J.10 (2), 105.
Sen, B.P. and Blaskaran, T.R. (1962), J. Wat. Pollut. Cont. Fed.34, (10), 1016.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Callander, I.J., Barford, J.P. Anaerobic digestion of high sulphate cane juice stillage in a tower fermenter. Biotechnol Lett 5, 755–760 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01386497
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01386497