STARTUP AND OPERATION OF AN ANAEROBIC BIOLOGICAL ACTIVATED CARBON (ANBAC) PROCESS FOR TREATMENT OF A HIGH-STRENGTH MULTICOMPONENT INHIBITORY WASTE-WATER

A joint study has been conducted by investigators at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Occidental Chemical Corporation to examine the feasibility of the anaerobic biologica activated carbon (AnBAC) process for treatment of a high strengh multicomponent inhibitory wastewater. The three principal components of the study waste are phenol, formaldehyde, and methanol. Bench–scale studies were conducted over a two‐year period using 2.54 cm and 5.08 cm ID AnBAC columns. Based on the results of the bench–scale studies, organic contaminant removal of greater than 90 percent was achived at loading rates of 0.06 g COD/g GAC/day. Subsequently, the results from the bench–scale studies were used to design a pilot–scale AnBAC system which has been operating successfully for approximately ten months at Occidental Chemical Corporation's Durez Division plant in North Tonawanda, New York. The purpose of this paper is to present performance data from both the bench– and pilot–scale systems and identify startup procedures found necessary for successful initiation of AnBAC column operation. Based on the data collected, the AnBAC process is capable of providing excellent treatment performance of the high strength waste. Proper balancing between the applied organic loading rate and the process removal capacity was found to be crucial in maintaining a healthy biomass during column startup due to the inhibitory nature of the wastewater. Copyright © 1990 American Institute of Chemical Engineers