Production of biomass for use in the treatment of Fischer-Tropsch reaction water

1. A process for producing in a reactor a biomass for use in the treatment of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction water, the process comprising:

introducing a nutrient component and water into an aerobic reaction zone containing a seed sludge, wherein the nutrient component comprises Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and a synthetic feed that comprises a Carbon (C) source consisting of acetic acid;

maintaining, in the aerobic reaction zone and under aerobic conditions, a F/M ratio of from 0.4 to 1.0 kg COD/kg MLSS·day for a period of time sufficient to produce an acclimatized biomass for subsequent use in the treatment of FT reaction water; and

after the period of time, discontinuing the introduction of the synthetic feed to the aerobic reaction zone and, after the period of time, introducing a feed stream comprising an aqueous mixture of carbon compounds to a zone that is upstream of and in fluid communication with the aerobic reaction zone,

where F/M=Food to Microorganism Ratio;

COD=Chemical Oxygen Demand, expressed as mg oxygen/l of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone; and

MLSS=Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids, expressed as mg solids in the aerobic reaction zone/l of liquid in the aerobic reaction zone.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the seed sludge is an aerobic domestic activated sludge.

3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the F/M ratio that is maintained in the aerobic reaction zone during the period of time is about 0.8 kg COD/kg MLSS·day.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein C and N introduced into the aerobic reaction zone are present in a C:N mass ratio of from 20:1 to 60:1, wherein C is expressed as COD.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein N and P introduced into the aerobic reaction zone are present in a N:P mass ratio of from 2:1 to 5:1.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein MLSS is about 800 mg/l or above.

7. The process according to claim 6 , wherein MLSS is about 1500 mg/l or above.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein pH in the aerobic reaction zone is maintained in the range of from 6.5 to 7.5 during the period of time.

9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein a minimum alkalinity concentration of 75 mg/l as CaCO 3 is maintained in the aerobic reaction zone during the period of time.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a dissolved oxygen concentration of 1.5 to 3.0 mg/l is maintained in the aerobic reaction zone during the period of time.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aerobic reaction zone is maintained at 2.5 to 3.0 mg/l during the period of time.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aerobic reaction zone is maintained at a temperature in the range of 32° C. to 42° C. during the period of time.

13. The process according to claim 12 , wherein the aerobic reaction zone is maintained at a temperature of about 37° C. during the period of time.

14. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the biomass has a cell residence time (CRT) in the aerobic reaction zone of from 18 to 45 days during the period of time.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the biomass has a cell residence time of about 35 days during the period of time.

16. Biomass produced by the process of claim 1 .