1991 Volume 27 Pages 97-106
In anaerobic waste treatment processes, the acetogenesis stage requires proper control of hydrogen by reducing the concentration of it in the formation of methane and hydrogen sulfide etc. Propionic acid is the most key low molecular acid in the acetogenesis process in terms of hydrogen control. We found that when propionic acid decomposition took place with sulfate reduction, the acetogenesis completed at a much faster rate than that of without sulfate reduction. Results of the experiments indicated the possibility of symbiotic activities between aceto- and hydro-genic bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria in terms of hydrogen transfer. A mathematical model based upon modified Monod type kinetics was introduced to describe the propionic acid decomposition with and without sulfate reduction. The model could well simulate the experimental results.
