Effects of elevated operating temperatures on methanol removal kinetics from synthetic kraft pulp mill condensate using a membrane bioreactor

The feasibility of biologically removing methanol from kraft pulp mill evaporator condensate was investigated, using a high temperature membrane bioreactor (MBR). Over the range of temperatures investigated (55–70°C), a mixed culture of methanol-utilizing microorganisms could be successfully developed, using synthetic condensate as a feedstock. A maximum specific methanol utilization coefficient of approximately 0.81 day−1 occurred at an operating temperature of 60°C. Over 99% of the methanol was removed from the condensate at operating temperatures of 55 and 60°C. Above 60°C, the specific methanol utilization coefficient declined sharply, indicating that at high operating temperatures, the inactivating effect of temperature on the mixed culture of microorganisms must be considered. A relatively simple model was proposed and used to estimate the effect of high temperatures on methanol removal kinetics in an MBR over the range of temperatures investigated. The operating temperature also had a significant effect on the observed growth yield. At increasing operating temperatures, a larger fraction of the methanol consumed was converted to energy, reducing the observed growth yield.