Waste to Energy Applications in the Wisconsin Canning Industry: Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Anaerobic Treatment of Vegetable Processing Wastewaters Using a Fixed Film Reactor: Project Report

摘要

This study was conducted to investigate the economic and environmental consequences of anaerobic wastewater treatment applied to a vegetable canning plant owned by Our Best Foods, Inc., Pulaski, Wisconsin. A pilot scale, upflow fixed film anaerobic reactor was utilized to determine pollutant removal efficiency, operational parameters, and basis of design of conceptual full scale conceptual full scale systems. Hydraulic retention times (HRT) as low as twelve hours and organic loading rates as high as 1.6 pounds total chemical oxygen demand (COD) per cubic foot of media per day were achieved during the pilot study. The total and soluble COD removals averaged 59% and 79% respectively for the duration of the study. The biogas produced from the anaerobic treatment pilot system typically contained 60 to 65% methane. About 3.0 cubic feet of methane (5.5 cubic feet of biogas) were produced at standard temperature and pressure (STP) per one pound of total COD removed. Wastewaters used in this study were found to be highly variable in their strength and chemical composition. Based upon the results of the pilot study, the projected economics of different hypothetical wastewater treatment options were examined and compared to the economics of the present waste disposal program. 18 refs., 2 figs., 8 tabs. (ERA citation 12:032607)