Performance of a three phase fluidized bed bioreactors on treatment of industrial waste water: case study of Tannins manufacturing industry

The use of immobilized cells aerobic bioreactors in treatment of organically loaded industrial wastewater has gained wide application due to their relatively high organic load removal abilities, attained within relatively short hydraulic retention times. This dissertation investigates the performance of a Three Phase Fluidized Bed Bioreactor (TPFBB) in treatment of industrial wastewater containing natural polar phenolic compounds (tannins). The study also establishes a kinetic mathematical model that describes the microbial degradation of tannins. Bench experiments were performed to guide the selection of effective inoculums in the treatment of tannin wastewater whereby the effectiveness of rumen fluid and activated sludge inoculums were tested. The performance of the TPFBB inoculated with the activated sludge inoculums from primary facultative pond was evaluated. The bioreactor achieved a removal efficiency of 91.5% in COD and 72.4% in tannin. The results also showed that the microbial degradation of tannin wastewater followed a trend which predicts first order reaction kinetics. The developed Haldane kinetics model showed a good prediction of the microbial ration of tannin wastewater. al degree It was concluded that the TPFBB • a suitable biological system for pre-treatment of tannin wastewater and that the Haldane inhibition kinetic model is suitable to represent the microbial degradation kinetics of condensed tannin wastewater.