Immobilized microbes and a high-rate, continuous waste processor for the production of high Btu gas and the reduction of pollutants

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Abstract
Microbes capable of degrading organic wastes (sewage) are densely packed (immobilized) within the pores of controlled-pore ceramics. When the ceramic displays the optimum pore range for the reproduction of these microbes, the minimum volume for a very efficient reactor is required. A two-stage, anaerobic, immobilized microbe reactor has been designed, and laboratoryscale units have been constructed. A few of these units have been operated continuously for two years. These reactors were designed for the efficent conversion of carbon to methane in biodegradable molecules and for the effective transfer of that gas. The reactors were operated at 20, 30, and 40°C at residence times of 2–5.5 h. The total chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the sewage varied from 800–2600 mg/L. The resulting gas contained greater than 90% methane and less than 5% CO2. Approximately 32–54% of the influent total carbon was recovered as methane. The reduction in COD varied from 63 to 89%.