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Reactor piping and instrumentation assembled and reactors inoculated. The biomass granules were fed synthetic waste water and produced biogas for two weeks before being disassembled. COD removal and methane production were measured and the reactors treated influential COD up to 85%. Next semester the reactors will be used to test the effects of oxygen stress on anaerobic cultures.
Spring 2016 Contributions
Initial Goals:
Build smaller UASB reactors for new lab space with hydraulic retention time of 4 hrs and upflow velocity of 0.05 mm/s.
Currently have 1 reactor assembled. Will begin testing air-tightness and quantifying any air leaks. Afterwards, will inoculate reactor while building another 1-3 additional reactors.