Estimation of Kinetic Parameters of Heterotrophic Biomass under Aerobic Conditions and Characterization of Wastewater for Activated Sludge Modelling

Abstract

To predict the behaviour of biological wastewater treatment plants, the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 is often used. For the application of this model kinetic parameters and wastewater composition must be known. A simple method to estimate kinetic parameters of heterotrophic biomass and COD wastewater fractions is presented. With three different types of batch-tests these parameters and fractions can be determined by measuring oxygen respiration. Our measurements showed that the maximum specific growth rate µmax of heterotrophic biomass depends on temperature, reactor configuration and SRT. In typical wastewater treatment plants of Switzerland the amount of readily biodegradable substrate was generally small (about 9 % of the COD in primary effluent). The same method can also be used to determine kinetic parameters of nitrifying biomass.