An approach to models for the design of upflow anaerobic filters

Abstract

In this paper, a novel categorization system of anaerobic reactors is created to frame novel upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) reactor separated into two stages (UAF-2SS) and three separated stages (UAF-3SS). Three models for the performance of UAF-2SS and UAF-3SS reactors are proposed: (1) Modified model of the Monod’s Equation for estimating the substrate utilization rate (SUR) whose kinetic coefficient explains intracellular processes, (2) Model for biochemical transformation of substrate based on the Monod’s Equation and the Velz’s Law where the kinetic coefficient is associated to extra and intracellular processes and (3) Coupled model for transport and biochemical transformation processes integrated by two components depending on extracellular processes (adsorption and hydrolysis) and intracellular processes (fermentation/anaerobic oxidation, acidogenesis and methanogenesis). The highest degree of explanation of the proposed kinetic models for performance of UAF-2SS and UAF-3SS in the substrate removal is achieved through the coupled model.

Keywords:

• Anaerobic reactors
• anaerobic filters
• filters separated in two stages
• filters separated in three stages
• modeling
• upflow anaerobic filter

Acknowledgements

A special acknowledgement is given to the members of laboratory and Environmental Research Group: Water, Air and Soil, University of Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia by executing the analysis and treatments of raw wastewater from landfill leachate, the Center of Hydrological and Environmental Research together with Institute of Math and Compute Applied, University of Carabobo, Venezuela by contributing to mathematical modeling, as well as, Editor and reviewers of the Journal of Applied Water Engineering and Research, who offered excellent suggestions for corrections that allowed us to improve our manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A. M. Márquez R.

A.M. Márquez R. was born in Venezuela, in 1976. She received the B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1999, the M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering in 2006 and the Ph.D. degree in Engineering in 2011. The three academic degrees were obtained at the University of Carabobo (UC), Venezuela.

From 2002 to the present, Adriana is professor in School of Civil Engineering at the UC. From 2006, she is member and co-founder of the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research (CIHAM-UC) belonging to the University of Carabobo. From 2015 to the present, she has performed the role of CIHAM-UC's Coordinator. From 2013 to the present, she is member and coordinator of program about Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at UC. From 2017 to the present, she is member of doctoral program in Engineering focused in Environmental Area at the UC. She is the author of three books, more than 20 scientific articles, and more than 30 participations in scientist events at international, national and regional scales. In the area of environmental engineering, she has been the advisor of 25 thesis approved for the Master degree of Science in environmental engineering and 5 doctoral thesis in progress for a doctoral degree in engineering at the UC. Her research interests include remote sensing of environmental, integrated management of watersheds and water resources, phenomena of transport and transformation of pollutants in the environment.

Dr. Marquez is member of Association of Civil Engineers of the University of Carabobo. Venezuela. Carabobo State Engineers Center, Venezuela. Venezuelan College of Engineers. Member of the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS).

J. I. Maldonado M.

J.I. Maldonado M. was born in Colombia, in 1957. He received the B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1981 at the Francisco de Paula Santander University, M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering since 1993 in the National University of Colombia-Bogota and Ph.D. student in Engineering at the University of Carabobo from 2016 to the present. From 1994 to the present, Julio has developed Civil Engineering exercise activities as in public and private institutions at Colombia. From 1998 to 2002, he performed as professor in the specialty of hydraulic and environmental engineering at the University of Nariño, Colombia. From 2002 to the present, he performed as professor in the specialty of hydraulic and environmental engineering at the University of Pamplona, Colombia. From 2017 to the present, he is member and coordinator of program about Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at University of Pamplona. He is founder and coordinator of Environmental Research Group: Water, Air and Soil, University of Pamplona, Colombia. She is the He has been author more than 20 scientific articles, and more than 20 participations in scientist events at international, national and regional scales. In the area of environmental engineering, she has been the advisor of more than 10 thesis approved for the Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Pamplona.

E. Guevara P.

E. Guevara P. was born in Peru in 1943. In 1968 he received his Bachelor of Science degree and his degree in Agricultural Engineering from the National Agrarian University, Lima, Peru. In 1970 he obtained his master's degree in Agricultural Engineering from Justus Liebig University; in 1972, his doctor degree from Chrustian Albrechs University, Federal Republic of Germany; and in 1973, his specialization in irrigation and drainage engineering and saline soils from the German Foundation for Development. In 1993 he also obtained a master's degree in Chemical Engineering-Fertilizer Business from the Carabobo University, Venezuela; and a Postdoctoral Diploma (Visiting Professor) in Water Resources Management, Integrated Watershed Management and Environmental Management, from Colorado State University, USA in 1996. In 2007 he founded the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research at the University of Carabobo (CIHAM -UC) being its Director until 2014. He coordinated 16 research projects in Water Resources Management; Integrated Management of Watersheds and Environment, developed at CIHAM UC. Since 2014 he has been a member of the National Water Court of the National Water Authority of Peru. Since 2008 he has been a Visiting Professor in the Master's and Ph.D. programs in water resources at the National Agrarian University of Peru. Since 2017, Dr. Guevara has been a member of the National Academy of Engineering and Habitat of Venezuela. He is the author / co-author of 24 text and reference books, 130 publications in indexed technical journals and more than 100 articles refereed in national and international conferences.

D. J. Rey L.

D.J. Rey L. was born in Venezuela, 1969. He received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering at University of Carabobo, Venezuela for 1995, the M.S. degree in Computer Engineering obtained at University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA for 1999, the Sc.D degree in Computer Science Program achieved in University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA for 2004. From 1995 to the present, Dr. Rey is professor at Sub-Dept. of Automation and Systems, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Carabobo. From 1998 to 2002, Dr. Rey was Research Assistant at Dept. of Computer Science. University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA; where he ported the parallel computing language ZPL to a high-performance embedded multicomputing system (Mercury RACE) and developed scientific applications in ZPL: matrix inversion, synthetic aperture radar. From 2003 to 2014, he was Director of Institute of Math and Applied Calculus. From 2007 to current, he is Head of Logic Design Laboratory. Sub-Dept. of Automation and Systems, Dept. of Electrical Engineering; where he prepare laboratory manuals on VHDL and FPGA, and discrete ICs digital circuits design; and design hardware with VHDL and implemented it on reconfigurable hardware (FPGA) for the Basys2 and Nexys2 development boards. From 2014 to present, he is Coordinator of Engineering Doctoral Program; where he advises enrolled and prospective students (approximately 30 enrolled students), and co-designed program curriculum. From 2014 to the present, he is the Director of Graduate Studies of Faculty of Engineering; managing 12 graduate programs (Doctor of Engineering and Masters); advising active and prospective students (approximately 300 active students) and managing staff of 15 employees. His skills includes: programming languages: C/C++, Python, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript/HTML/CSS, Compiler technology: Lex & Yacc, ANTLR, Gcc., Development tools: Git, Vagrant, GProf, GDB, Gmake, Hardware Description Languages: VHDL and Operating Systems: Linux, Mac OSX and Windows systems. Dr Rey is author of more than 10 scientist articles. The selected conference proceedings include more than 4. The Awards and Recognitions have been obtained as follows: Program for the Incentive of Researchers and Innovators (PEII) Level B: National Observatory of Technology, Science and Innovation. Venezuela, from 2004 to 2008 by Program for Promotion of Researchers (PPI) Level II. His affiliations includes the following: from 1995 to current, CIV: Engineers Association of Venezuela, from 1998 to current, IEEE. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; from 1998 to current, ACM: Association for Computing Machinery. The Languages include English and Spanish.

S. A. Pérez P.

S.A. Pérez P. was born in Venezuela, 1957. He is Chemical Engineer graduated from Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuel (1980), Postgraduate in Applied Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (1989), and PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Sherbrooke. Quebec, Canada, (2000), and Postdoctorate at that same University (2003). Full-time professor at the University of Carabobo, Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering (1981-2007), currently Retired Full Professor. Founder of the Research Unit in Process Engineering, and dedicated to research in the area of modeling and simulation of chemical and environmental processes. Honorary member of the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research (CIHAM-UC) belonging to the University of Carabobo.