Zur Reaktionstechnik der anaeroben Fermentation

Chemical reaction engineering of anaerobic fermentation. Anaerobic fermentation has already been used for more than 50 years for the disposal of excess activated sludge. In recent years, increasing costs and considerable problems encountered in connection with the disposal of activated sludge have encouraged the development of anaerobic processes for the treatment of industrial waste water. Various aspects which have to be taken into account when planning a digester plant are discussed. Reduction in residence time with concomitant increase of biogas production rate is possible by retention of biomass. In this way catabolic performances are obtained comparable to those of aerobic high capacity activated sludge plants. Anaerobic waste treatment appears so far to be a real purification method because the predominant part of the organic pollution (more than 95%) is eliminated under energy saving conditions. The by‐product biogas contributes to the energy self‐sufficiency of the process.