Comparison of CSTR and UASB reactor configuration for the treatment of sulfate rich wastewaters under acidifying conditions

The effects of lowering the operational pH from 6 to 5 on mesophilic (30 °C) sulfate reduction during the acidification of sucrose at an organic loading rate of 5 gCOD (l_reactor d)⁻¹ and at a COD/SO₄²⁻ ratio of 4 were evaluated in a CSTR and in a UASB reactor. The HRT was 24 h and 10 h, respectively. Acidification was complete in both reactors at pH 6 and the lowering of the operational pH to 5 did not affect the acidification efficiency in the CSTR but decreased the acidification efficiency of the UASB to 72%. The decrease to pH 5 caused an increase in the effluent butyrate and ethanol concentrations in both reactors. Lowering the pH from 6 to 5 caused a decrease in sulfate reduction efficiencies in both reactors, from 43% to 25% in the CSTR and from 95% to 34% in the UASB reactor. The acidification and sulfate reduction efficiencies at pH 5 could be increased to 94% and 67%, respectively, by increasing the HRT of the UASB reactor to 24 h.