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

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.