ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses system design, startup experiences, actual versus estimated wastewater characteristics, and operating results available to the date of the paper presentation. The alcohol production facilities as engineered by Lummus Crest, Inc., Bloomfield, New Jersey, were based on technology from Buckau-Wolf, a Germany-based company. The Tennol Energy Company constructed and started a new ethanol production plant near Jasper, Tennessee, which was completed in late 1985. Tennol's plant is officially designated a pretreatment plant since the waste after treatment is discharged to the City of Jasper's collection system and wastewater treatment facility. The pH of the equalization basin is constantly monitored by a pH element and transmitter which is displayed on pH controller at the wastewater control panel. The ideal procedure would be to have obtained seed sludge from an anaerobic digester treating an identical waste. Difficulties have been experienced in plant operation, particularly with the highly variable loadings to the plant.
