Continuous methanogenesis of black liquor of pulp and paper mills in an anaerobic baffled reactor using an immobilized cell system

Abstract

Abstract An anaerobic baffled reactor together with an immobilized cell system has been proposed for methanogenesis of the black liquor from pulp and paper mills in a continuous system. A maximum chemical oxygen demand reduction of 50%, and biogas generation of 10 L d −1 , having methane content of 66% (v/v) at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 7 kg m −3 d −1 with hydraulic retention time of 2 days, were recorded. OLR values higher than 7 kg m −3 d −1 were toxic to methanogenesis and destabilized the reactor system. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry