Effects of Testing Time on Anaerobic Toxicity Assessment

87 Pages·2016·0.9 MB·English

by  Omolola Atinuke Akintomide

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Graduate Theses and Dissertations
8-2012
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Omolola Atinuke Akintomide
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
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EFFECTS OF TESTING TIME ON ANAEROBIC TOXICITY ASSESSMENT
EFFECTS OF TESTING TIME ON ANAEROBIC TOXICITY ASSESSMENT

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

By

Omolola Atinuke Akintomide
Obafemi Awolowo University
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 2007

August 2012
University of Arkansas
ABSTRACT
Anaerobic digestion has been widely used for wastewater treatment for decades. Several
Anaerobic Toxicity tests have been developed to screen wastewater for toxicity and assess the
treatability of such toxicants. However, past research and reviews on Biochemical Methane
Potential (BMP) test and Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA) were considered in this study.
The experimental tests included ammonium-nitrogen and sodium chloride toxicity tests
with varied concentration and solid retention time. These tests were designed to demonstrate the
impact of ammonia- nitrogen and sodium chloride on the biological degradation process. The
anaerobic test set-up includes bench-scale test reactors and respirometers used for measuring gas
production volume and rate.
The experimental data using the gas production volumes and rates were plotted and
analyzed. The hourly rate of gas production significantly decreases before the daily production
volume decreases. Also, the gas production volume curves showed little or no toxicity when the
gas production rates showed toxicity and acclimation.
In conclusion, the hourly production rate curves will indicate toxicity faster and
extensively than the cumulative daily production volumes curves, thereby reducing testing time.
This thesis is approved for recommendation
to the Graduate Council.

Thesis Director:

__________________________________
Dr. Wen Zhang

Thesis Committee:

__________________________________
Dr. James Young

__________________________________
Dr. Findlay Edwards
THESIS DUPLICATION RELEASE
I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this thesis when needed for

research and/or scholarship.

Agreed __________________________

Omolola Atinuke Akintomide

Refused _________________________
Omolola Atinuke Akintomide
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to the management and staff of Envitreat LLC for funding this entire research
project.
Also, special thanks go out to my thesis director and committee.
DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to my family and friends for their encouragement, financial and
emotional support, and to Dr. Young and Anne at the laboratory for their technical support and
help in the completion of this project.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................... 3
2.1 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION ............................................................................................... 3
2.2 ANAEROBIC TOXICITY ASSESSMENT ....................................................................... 5
2.2.1 ANAEROBIC TOXICITY ASSAY (ATA) ............................................................. 6
2.2.2 BIOCHEMICAL METHANE POTENTIAL (BMP) TEST ................................... 7
2.2.3 DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BMP AND ATA ................... 9
2.3 FACTORS AFFECTING ANAEROBIC TOXICITY ASSESSMENT .......................... 10
2.3.1 INOCULUM/BIOMASS INVENTORY ................................................................ 11
2.3.2 TEMPERATURE ................................................................................................... 11
2.3.3 LOADING RATE ................................................................................................... 12
2.3.4 ACCLIMATION..................................................................................................... 13
2.3.5 OTHER FACTORS ................................................................................................ 14
2.4 ACUTE AND CHRONIC TOXICITY ............................................................................. 14
2.4.1 METHANE PRODUCTION CURVE .................................................................... 16
2.4.2 TESTING TIME ..................................................................................................... 17
3.0 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 22