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JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART A-TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, vol.40, no.3, pp.633-644, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
Inhibition of volatile fatty acids (VFA), namely acetate, butyrate, and propionate, on the activity of acetoclastic methanogens within a full-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was investigated using specific methanogenic activity (SMA) test. SMA tests were carried out at acetate concentrations in a range of 1000-25,000 mg l(-1), butyrate concentrations in a range of 3000-25,000 mg l(-1) and propionate concentrations between 500-10,000 mg l(-1). Maximum potential methane production (PMP) rates were obtained as 389 ml CH4 gTVS(-1).d(-1) at 3000 mg l(-1) acetate concentration, 432 ml CH(4)gTVS(-1).d(-1) at butyrate concentration of 5000 mg l(-1), and 162 mlCH(4) gTVS(-1).d(-1) at 1000 mg l(-1) propionate concentration. App. 50% and 100% inhibition occurred at acetate concentrations of 13,000 mg l(-1) and 25,000 mg l(-1), butyrate concentrations of 15,000 mg l(-1) and 25,000 mg l(-1), and propionate concentrations of 3500 mg l(-1) and 5000 mg l(-1), respectively.