Formic acid: development of an analytical method and use as a process indicator in anaerobic systems

162 Pages·2 MB·en_US

by  Perkins, Sharon L.

FORMIC ACID: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANALYTICAL METHOD AND
USE AS A PROCESS INDICATOR IN ANAEROBIC SYSTEMS
A Special Research Problem Report
Presented to
the Faculty of the Division of Graduate Studies
by
Sharon L. Perkins
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science
in the School of Civil Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
March 1992
T256373
?33?Z
FORMIC ACID: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANALYTICAL METHOD AND
USE AS A PROCESS INDICATOR IN ANAEROBIC SYSTEMS
by
Sharon L. Perkins
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The completion of this research has been a very difficult, but
at the same time rewarding task. I wish to express my appreciation
to Dr. Wendall Cross for his continuous support and guidance
throughout the course of my research. I would also like to
recognize the Environmental Engineering faculty of the Georgia
Institute of Technology, School of Civil Engineering for the role
they played in my education process. However, most of my success
in this program can be attributed to the constant encouragement,
love and attention I received from my husband, Armond Perkins. To
all of you I would like to say thank you.
in

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii
LIST OF TABLES v
LIST OF FIGURES vii
LIST OF APPENDICES xi
ABSTRACT xii
INTRODUCTION
1
GENERAL
1
BIOCHEMISTRY
4
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH 5
LITERATURE REVIEW
9
PROCESS INHIBITION
9
PROCESS INDICATORS 12
FORMIC ACID 14
Biochemistry 14
Methods of detection 18
ANALYTICAL METHODS AND MATERIALS
26
DEVELOPMENT OF FORMIC ACID ANALYTICAL METHOD 26
....
ANAEROBIC BATCH REACTOR SETUP AND OTHER ANALYSES 43
RESULTS 52
TEST 1 - SUBSTRATE CONCENTRATION INCREASE 52
TEST 2 - CHLOROFORM TOXICITY 59
TEST 3 - AMMONIA TOXICITY NUMBER 1 66
TEST 4 - AMMONIA TOXICITY 80
TEST 5 - AMMONIA TOXICITY 80
TEST 6 - AMMONIA TOXICITY NUMBER 4 82
TEST 7 - SEED REACTOR DURING UPSET 88
CONCLUSIONS 98
FINDINGS 98
AREAS OF FUTURE RESEARCH 98
ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE 99
REFERENCES 100
IV
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
1.1 ENERGY METABOLISM OF METHANOGENIC BACTERIA 6
1.2 SOLE ELECTRON SOURCE FOR METHANOGENESIS AND
GROWTH
8
2.1 ENZYMES THAT ACT ON FORMIC ACID 15
3.1 DATA FROM CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF
CHEMICALS THAT HAVE ELUTION TIMES SIMILAR TO
FORMIC ACID 27
3.2 DATA FROM CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ACETIC
AND FORMIC ACIDS 28
3.3 DATA FROM ION CHROMATOGRAPHIC REPRODUCIBILITY
ANALYSIS OF LEACHATE FROM EXPERIMENTAL
LANDFILL COLUMN 1, SPIKED WITH 10 MG/L FORMIC
ACID AND PRETREATED WITH RP AND AG
CARTRIDGES 36
3.4 DATA FROM ION CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS TO
DETERMINE THE LOWEST CONCENTRATION OF FORMIC
ACID DETECTABLE 38
3.5 FORMIC ACID ANALYSIS OF EFFLUENT FROM VARIOUS
ANAEROBIC REACTORS 39
3.6 SEED REACTOR SUBSTRATE 44
3.7 TEST REACTOR SUBSTRATES 4 9
3.8 TEST CONDITIONS 51
4.1 PH ANALYSIS OF EFFLUENT FROM REACTORS FED
VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF SUBSTRATE 52
4.2 PH ANALYSIS OF EFFLUENT FROM REACTORS FED
SUBSTRATE CONTAINING VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF
CHLOROFORM 66
4.3 PH ANALYSIS OF EFFLUENT FROM REACTORS FED
SUBSTRATE CONTAINING VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF
NH AMMONIA TOXICITY ANALYSIS #1 74
3,