Kinetics of psychrophilic anaerobic sequencing batch reactor treating flushed dairy manure

In this study, a new strategy, improving biomass retention with fiber material present within the dairy manure as biofilm carriers, was evaluated for treating flushed dairy manure in a psychrophilic anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). A kinetic study was carried out for process control and design by comparing four microbial growth kinetic models, i.e. first order, Grau, Monad and Chen and Hashimoto models. A volumetric methane production rate of 0.24 L/L/d of and a specific methane productivity of 0.19 L/gVS(loaded) were achieved at 6 days HRT. It was proved that an ASBR using manure fiber as support media not only improved methane production but also reduced the necessary HRT and temperature to achieve a similar treating efficiency compared with current technologies. The kinetic model can be used for design and optimization of the process. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.