FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATIOS OF GASES PRODUCED DURING THE DIGESTION OF SLUDGE

69 Pages·2.574 MB·English

by  ALEGNANI, WILLIAM CHARLES

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION SERIES
fACTOR.^ AFFECTING THE RATIOS I

title
s m m m m
produced
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DIGESTM OF SLUDGE
M U A M CHARLES ALEGNAfU

author

MRHIQAA STATF COLL
u n iv e rs ity da te
(Lb.
DEGREE _ PUBLICATION NO.. m i
i|i[i|i i l i p i ’l ' ' I ' l ' M I ' I ' l 1 '['['I
T M UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS
- L W ANN AMOR . MICHIGAN
FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATIOS OF GASES
PRODUCED DURING THE DIGESTION
OF SLUDGE
by
William C. Alegnani
A DISSERTATION
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State College of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Bacteriology and Public Health
1952
To my wire
PEGGY
who has inspired, me in moments
oP depression* this thesis is
affectionately dedicated
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writer wishes to express his appreciation to
Dr. Walter L. Mallmann Tor his advise and encouragement
offered during the course of this study*
Appreciation is also extended to Dr. H. J. Stafseth.
for proof-reading the final draft of this work*
Thanks are also extended to Edwin Ellis for taking
the pictures presented in this thesis*
William G . Alegnani
candidate for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Pinal examination, September 22, 1952, 9:00 A- M., Room 100
Giltner Hall
Dissertation: Factors affecting the ratios of gases produced
during the digestion of sludge
Outline of Studies:
Major subject: Bacteriology
Minor subject: Biological Chemistry
Biographical Items:
Born: January 18, 1924, Springfield, Illinois
Undergraduate Studies: Wayne University, 1943 (1 term)
Michigan State College, 1943 (1 term)
University of Missouri, 1943 (2 terms)
Wayne University, 1946 - 1948 B. A. June, 1948
Graduate Studies: Michigan State College, 1948 - 1950
M. S. June, 1950
Michigan State College, 1950 - 1952
Experiences: Graduate Assistant in Bacteriology, Michigan
State College, 1948 — 1952
Organizations: Sigma Xi, Society of American Bacteriologis
National Geographic Society, U. S. Army
Medical Reserve Corp.
TABLE of c o n t e n t s
Page
INTRODUCT ION............................................ 1
Purpose of study............................... 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE.................................. 3
Composition of sewage gas...................... 3
Synthetic detergents in sewage................. 6
Influence of organic matter.•••••..••.••••••••• 8
iViaTmr(lAJu>S AND MBf-iUDS. 11
Sludges............. 11
Synthetic detergents. .......... 11
Culture media. •••••• 12
Bacterial c o u n t s . 12
Fermentation s y s t e m s . 13
Method of gas analysis. ... ............. 15
AESuJ-.TS AND DISCUSSION.................... 20
Raw and digested sludge..................... 20
Cationic detergents and sludge digestion...... 24
Direct effect of a cationic and an anionic
detergent......... 26
Gas ratios at different intervals of time...... 27
Non-Ionic detergents and sludge digestion...••. 35
Effect of detergents on microflora of sludge..• 37
Fatty acids and sludge digestion................. 40
Tolerance of fatty acids. ...... 42
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.)
Pag©
Contact time and gas ratios...... 47
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS................................... 53
REFERENCES................................................... 54
LIST OF TABLES
The relationship between total gas production
and carbon dioxide to methane ratios when
various amounts of raw sludge are added to
dige sted sludge.......... . . ......... •••••••••••• 21
Carbon dioxide - methane ratios obtained
when raw sludge was added to digested sludge... 22
The effect of a synthetic detergent (BTC)
on the digestion of sludge..................... 25
The ratios of carbon dioxide to methane
produced when various concentrations of
synthetic detergents are added to digested
sludge............................................;... 28
A comparative study of gas ratios and to tal
gas production over various periods of time
when different concentrations of synthetic
detergent are present.......... ••••••••••••••••• 30
a) 500 ml of digested sludge 30
b) 400 ml of digested sludge / 50 ml of raw
sludge / 50 ml of water. 30
c) 400 ml of digested sludge / 50 ml of raw
sludge / 50 ml of BTC (final conc. 50 ppm).. 31
d) 400 ml of digested sludge / 50 ml of raw
sludge / 50 ml of BTC (final conc. 100 ppm). 31
e) 400 ml of digested sludge / 50 ml of raw
sludge / 50 ml of BTC (final conc. 200 ppm). 32
f) 400 ml of digested sludge / 50 xul of raw
sludge / 50 ml of BTC (final conc. 500 ppm). 32
The effect of different concentrations of
synthetic detergent (BTC) on the total volume
of gas produced by digesting sludge......... 33
.LIST OF TABjLaES (Cont.)
Table Pag©
7. The effect of a non-ionic synthetic
detergent (Triton X-lOO) on the ratio
of gases when added to digesting sludge.••••• 36
8. The effect of different concentrations
of synthetic detergents on the total gas
production, the ratios of carbon dioxide
to methane, and the colil'orm and gram
positive miciococcus organisms when added
to digesting s l u d g e 39
9. The effect of different amounts of fatty
acids on the total gas production, the
ratios of carbon dioxide to methane, and
the bacterial counts with respect to the
coliform and gram positive micrococcus
groups when added to digesting sludge...••••• 41
10. The effect of various organic compounds
on the total gas production, the ratios
of carbon dioxide to methane, and the
bacterial counts with respect to the coliform
and gram positive micrococcus groups when
added to dige sting s l u d g e 43
11. The effect of fatty acids on the total
gas production, the ratios of carbon
dioxide to methane, and the bacterial
counts with respect to the coliform
and gram positive micrococcus groups
when added to aige sting sludge............. 45
12. The difference in carbon dioxide -
methane ratios when the gases are left
in contact with the digesting liquor
over long periods of time........... .••••••••• 49
a) sodium formate
b) oleic acid 50
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
I. Fermentation apparatus used for the
collection of gas during the digestion
of sludge ................... ••.•••••••••••••• 14
II. Gas analysis aoparatus. Burrell
Build-up Model # 39-241..................... 16
III. The effect of various concentrations
of BTC on the total volume of gas
produced by digesting sludge•••••••••••••••• 34