Effective Foaming Control Strategies for Anaerobic Digesters

生物反应器和污泥池中的泡沫是一个严重的问题，对污水处理厂的运行、环境和经济产生负面影响。因此，泡沫控制是稳定和有效的厌氧消化器操作的迫切需要。尽管已经做出了许多努力来减轻起泡问题，但是还没有发现有效的解决方案。抑制泡沫的最常见策略是添加消泡剂。然而，消泡剂的有效性高度依赖于所应用的特定厌氧消化系统，并且适合于一个系统的消泡剂可能不适合于其他系统。阿尔伯塔大学的Yang Liu博士与阿尔伯塔首都地区废水委员会（ACRWC）合作，提议建立一个团队，为处理废水处理过程中产生的污泥的厌氧消化池开发有效的泡沫控制策略。六个厌氧消化器，每个都有不同的发泡处理，将被用来评估最佳的厌氧消化策略。厌氧消化策略将根据运行条件和污泥特性制定，以减少泡沫问题并确保高效的厌氧消化。

Foaming in bioreactors and sludge tanks represents a serious problem negatively affecting the operation, environment and economy of wastewater treatment plants. Thus, foaming control is an imperative need for stable and efficient anaerobic digester operation. Although many efforts have been made to mitigate foaming issues, no effective solutions have been discovered. The most common strategy to suppress foaming is to add defoamers. However, the effectiveness of a defoamer is highly dependent on the specific anaerobic digestion system applied and a defoamer suitable for one system might not be suitable for other systems. Therefore, a comprehensive study linking digester sludge characterization, operation conditions and defoamer selection and addition strategies is necessary.In collaboration with the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission (ACRWC), Dr. Yang Liu at the University of Alberta has proposed to build a team that will develop effective foaming control strategies for anaerobic digesters that treat the sludge generated during wastewater treatment. Six anaerobic digesters, each with a different foaming treatment, will be employed to evaluate the best defoaming strategy. The defoaming strategies will be developed based on operational conditions and sludge characteristics to reduce foaming issues and ensure efficient anaerobic digestion.