zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA The effect of shock loads of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) on the activity of granular methanogenic sludge was studied with capric acid as model substrate. The results show that inhibition is primarily related to the LCFA concentration; the LCFArbiomass ratio is less im portant. A lethal threshold LCFA concentration can be distinguished in reactors with identical physical and chemical conditions and inoculum properties: the acetogenic and methanogenic population is killed virtually completely when the concentration exceeds 6.7 to 9.0 mol/m 3 capric acid. The observed variation in the threshold level may be attributable to differences in mass transfer rate from liquid to granules in different experiments. At most, 0.2% of the acetotrophic methanogens survives, when the LCFA concentration in a methanogenic digester exceeds the lethal threshold level. Mass balance analysis shows that obligate hydrogen producing acetogenic bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens re cover first, followed by acetotrophic methanogens. Recovery of aceto trophic methanogenesis can be described by exponential growth of a small number of survivors. Acetotrophic methanogens do not adapt to LCFA, neither after repeated exposure to toxic concentrations, nor after prolonged exposure to nontoxic concentrations. A low LCFA (lipid) concentration in the influent promotes faster growth of acetogenic bacteria capable of degrading LCFA.zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Water Environ. Res., 66, 40 (1994).

Recent UASB-pilot plant and full scale experiences show that anaerobic pre-treatment is feasible for sewage and domestic wastewaters in tropical regions. This offers developing countries the unique opportunity to become completely self-sufficient in this respect. UASB-systems can be applied at very small and at very big scale, i.e. for off-site and (house and community) on-site treatment. Results obtained in pilot plant and full scale installations demonstrate that these systems are quite effective in removing and stabilizing organic pollutants at liquid detention times as low as 4 hrs, i.e. a BOD reduction up to 75-95 % can be achieved, while an almost complete treatment can be accomplished by combining the method with a small aerobic lagoon. Instead of consuming high grade energy, these systems produce energy. Moreover the excess sludge production is very low, while also the dewatering characteristics of the sludge are excellent.