Degree of sulfate-reducing activities on COD removal in various reactor configurations in anaerobic glucose and acetate-fed reactors

Sulfate-reduction data from various anaerobic reactor configurations, e.g., upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBR), completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR), and batch reactor (BR) with synthetic wastewaters, having glucose and acetate as the substrates and different levels of sulfate, were evaluated to determine the level of sulfate-reducing activity by sulfate-reducing bacteria coupled to organic matter removal. Anaerobic reactors were observed for the degree of competition between sulfate-reducing sulfidogens and methane producing bacteria during the degradation of glucose and acetate. Low sulfate-reducing activity was obtained with a maximum of 20% of organic matter degradation with glucose-fed upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactors (UASBRs), while a minimum of 2% was observed with acetate-fed batch reactors. The highest sulfate removal performance (72-89%) was obtained from glucose fed-UASB reactors, with the best results observed with increasing COD/SO₄ ratios. UASB reactors produced the highest level of sulfidogenic activity, with the highest sulfate removal and without a performance loss. Hence, this was shown to be the optimum reactor configuration. Dissolved sulfide produced as a result of sulfate reduction reached 325 mg/L and 390 mg/L in CST and UASB reactors, respectively, and these levels were tolerated. The sulfate removal rate was higher at lower COD/SO₄ ratios, but the degree of sulfate removal improved with increasing COD/SO₄ ratios.