Mass transfer and temperature effects on substrate utilization in brewery granules.

Liquid film and diffusional resistances of brewery granules during acetate, propionate, and ethanol utilization were investigated. Substrate utilization rate increased with decreased granule size. Effectiveness factors for acetate, propionate, and ethanol were calculated by comparing the maximum rates of substrate utilization of whole granules (1.8 to 3.0 mm) and fine flocs (20 to 75 mum) derived by disrupting whole granules. For acetate, propionate, and ethanol, maximum specific substrate utilization rates (k(m') g/g VS . d) for the flocs, were 5.11, 6.25, and 5.49, respectively, and half-velocity coefficients (K(g') mM) were 0.45, 0.40, and 3.37, respectively. Calculated effectiveness factors were 0.32, 0.41, and 0.75 for acetate, propionate, and ethanol, respectively. The effect of temperature on substrate utilization was examined at 26 degrees C, 31 degrees C, and 37 degrees C using acetate as sole carbon source. Utilization rates increased with temperature. Flocs were most sensitive to temperature, and whole granules were least affected. The behavior of flocs was well described by the Van't Hoff-Arrhenius equation. Effectiveness factors for acetate utilization by the granules were 0.36, 0.35, and 0.32 at 26 degrees C, 31 degrees C, and 37 degrees C, respectively, indicating little effect of temperature. Based on these results, we conclude that both liquid film and diffusional resistances influenced the rate of substrate utilization in a UASB reactor with granular sludge. Temperature effects were much less important than diffusional limitations within the granules. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.