Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment

Technologies
October 8, 2014

Presented by:
Dwain R. Wilson, M.Sc.E, P.Eng.

Presentation Outline
Introduction of ADI Systems Inc.
o

Our experience and capabilities

Why consider on-site wastewater treatment?

Comparison of anaerobic and aerobic treatment
Biogas resulting from anaerobic digestion
o

Treatment and utilization

Anaerobic technologies:
o ADI-BVF reactor

o ADI-CSTR

o ADI-UASB

o ADI-Hybrid

o ADI-AnMBR

o ADI-ECSB

Snapshot of ADI Systems

Parent company ADI Group Inc. founded in 1945
Offices in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil
Industrial wastewater treatment for medium-to-high strength
COD, TSS concentrations
Anaerobic, aerobic, and biogas treatment/utilization
technologies
215+ installations in 35+ countries worldwide

Why Consider On-Site Wastewater Treatment

Increasingly strict environmental regulations
Tougher penalties for improper
disposal
Higher surcharges for off-site disposal
More demand for green products from
consumers
Public perception odor, noise, pollution
Increased production puts strain on existing facilities

Industrial Wastewater Treatment for

a Wide Variety of Industries

Food and beverage

Biofuels

Pharmaceutical and chemical

Breweries

Pulp and paper

Distilleries

Anaerobic Treatment

Organic material CO2 + CH4 + H2O + bacterial cells

Very little energy is required, only for mixing and contact

Methane is produced yielding energy

Sludge yield is much less than aerobic

Anaerobic Treatment

Aerobic Treatment

Organic material + O2 CO2 + H2O + bacterial cells

Supplying oxygen is energy intensive
Sludge yield is significant

Aerobic Wastewater Treatment

Comparison between
Aerobic and Anaerobic Treatment
Aerobic

Anaerobic

Conditions
Preferably after pre-clarification
Best for wastewater with lower
concentration
Rather cold wastewater

Conditions
Also without pre-settling
Only for medium and high
concentrated wastewaters
Warm wastewater (>20C)

Process
Low effluent values can be
attained
Simultaneous N & P removal
possible
High excess sludge production

Process
Low effluent values only with
additional aerobic polishing
No significant N or P removal
Very small excess sludge
production

Comparison between
Aerobic and Anaerobic Treatment
Aerobic

Anaerobic

Byproducts
A lot of excess sludge

Byproducts
Valuable biogas

Operation
High:
Aeration (power)
Nutrients (N & P)
Sludge disposal

Operation
Low:
Low power consumption
No or little nutrients
No or little excess sludge

Anaerobic Pathway
Carbohydrates

Amino Acids &

Sugars

Proteins

Hydrolysis

Fat, Oil and

Grease

Long Chain Fatty

Acids

Acidogenesis
Intermediates
Propionic, Butyric, Lactic,
Acetogenesis
Acetic Acid

Hydrogen
Methanogenesis
Methane

Simplified Anaerobic Pathway

Bucket Brigade
RWW

1. Solubilized/Simpler

2. Volatile Acids

1. Hydrolisis
2. Acidogenisis/Acetogenisis
3. Methanogenisis

Acidogens are robust (growth, pH, temp)

Methanogens are sensi ve (growth, pH, temp)

3. Methane

Anaerobic Basics

Effluent
CO2
Methane
Sludge
Input

Organics in
Wastewater

Anaerobic
Treatment

Aerobic
Treatment

Types of Anaerobic Reactors

High rate

ECSB:

L = 16 to 24

Intermediate rate

UASB:
Hybrid:

L = 8 to 10
L = 6 to 10

Moderate rate

Contact:
AnMBR:

L = 2 to 5
L = 2 to 8

Low rate

BVF:

L = 0.5 to 2

Process selection depends on type of wastewater, operating conditions, site

constraints, ease of operation, and economics
Note: L is COD loading expressed as kg COD/m3/d applied to the reactor

Fundamental Anaerobic
Operating Requirements
Substrate and Biomass Contact
Decouple Solids Residence Time (SRT) from Hydraulic
Residence Time (HRT)
Maintain Suitable Environmental Operating Conditions

Benefits of Anaerobic Treatment

Efficient means of waste
treatment and volatile solids
conversion/reduction
Sustainable green value
Energy recovery through biogas
generation - 0.35m of methane
gas per kg of COD removed
Savings in electrical energy 70-90% reduction in electrical
power consumption compared to
aerobic treatment

Benefits of Anaerobic Treatment (cont)

Sludge handling and disposal - Significant savings in amounts and cost
Robust and stable - Can handle shock flows and loadings
Ability to handle high-strength wastes - No waste is too strong
Lower nutrient requirements - Can be significant with some WW
Stripping of VOCs - problem is eliminated

Biogas Treatment and Utilization

Biogas is a natural by-product of the anaerobic digestion process
Biogas is an economical green energy source, offering
savings and reducing a plants carbon footprint

ADI Systems
Anaerobic Treatment Technologies
Type L ADI-BVF

ADI-AnMBR

Type S ADI-BVF

CSTR

ADI-Hybrid

UASB

ECSB

Low-rate Anaerobic

Schematic of ADI-BVF Reactor

Biogas
conduit

Biogas
negative
pressure

Variable
level

Floating insulated
membrane cover

Effluent
structure

Effluent

Scum layer

Baffle(s)
Primary reaction
zone

Clarification zone
Mixer(s)

Distribution system

Sludge level varies

Feed

WANS
(waste)

RANS (sludge recycle)

SREC (supernatant recycle)

ADI-BVF Reactor
Low-rate sludge blanket process
Typical COD loading rates: 0.3-3.0 kg/m3.d
Ideal for a wide range of wastewaters
Typical HRTs: 7 to 14 days
Very stable operations
Range of operating temperatures: 20 to 40 C
Very long SRT reduced sludge disposal costs
COD removals can be >90%
Handles wastes with high TSS and FOG concentrations

Moderate-rate Anaerobic

Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor

Biogas

Influent

Sludge Recycle

CSTR

Solids
Separation

(centrifuge, DAF, clarifier)

Waste Sludge

Effluent

Anaerobic Membrane Bio-Reactor

Biogas
Sludge Recycle

Influent

CSTR

AnMBR Basin

(in-situ membranes)

Permeate

Waste Sludge

Membrane Cartridge
Nozzle
Membrane Panel
Spacer
Membrane Sheet

Microstructure
Effective Area: 8.6 ft2/pc (0.8 m2/pc)

ADI-AnMBR

Ideal for high-strength waste streams containing high influent COD and TSS
concentrations and FOG

Complete-mix anaerobic reactor coupled with membrane filtration

Uses physical membrane barrier to perform solids/liquid/gas separation and

reactor biomass retention

Decouples SRT and HRT (solids and liquid residence time)

Produces effluent with much lower BOD and TSS concentrations compared to
conventional anaerobic technologies

Maximizes biogas production potential

Does not require granular sludge which can de-granulate and is not always
readily available

Intermediate-rate Anaerobic

Schematic of ADI-Hybrid Reactor

Biogas
collection

Geomembrane cover

Media Zone
Sludge
Blanket

Effluent

WANS
Influent
WANS

ADI-Hybrid Reactor
Intermediate rate process
Typically used in petro-chemical industry
Combination of UASB and UFF reactors
Lower portion (UASB) is typically 30 to 70% of reactor volume, and
flocculent and/or granular sludge develops there
The type of sludge that develops is not important
Upper portion (UFF) is typically 30 to 70% of reactive volume; the media is
a mix of cross and vertical flow type and provides extensive surface area
Media is an effective gas-liquids-solids separator

(Ultra)High-rate Anaerobic

Essential Requirements for Successful Operation

of an Ultra-HR Anaerobic Reactor
1. Granular sludge (biomass) development
2. Sludge retention

Ultra-HR Technology Comparison

Biothane EGSB

Biogas

Influent

Paques IC

Biogas

ADI ECSB

Effluent

Influent

Biogas

Effluent

Influent

ADI-ECSB (External Circulation Sludge Bed)

Ultra-high rate technology
Developed by HydroThane STP and under license by ADI Systems in
North America and case-by-case elsewhere
Granular sludge bed anaerobic technology
Ideal for warm, soluble wastewaters (can not tolerate FOG/TDS/TSS)
Higher organic loading rates than earlier generation systems
100% GLSS coverage
Two sets of GLSSs results in better solids retention and lower effluent
TSS
System allows for taller reactors, reducing overall footprint

ADI-ECSB Reactor

Thank you!
adisystemsinc.com

Biogas Transmission, Control and Utilization

Reactor Biogas Removal
Point

Biogas Blowers

Boilers, Dryers, Gen-sets, Micro-Turbines, and Fuel Cells