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Model development with defined biological mechanisms for xenobiotic treatment activated sludge at steady state

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Abstract

Activated sludge treatment of a xenobiotic organic compound, much different from treatment of biogenic organics, must be modeled with interactions involving a two-part biomass of degrader and nondegrader, which selectively or competitively grow on a two-part substrate of input xenobiotic and its biogenic metabolites. A xenobiotic treatment model was developed which incorporates kinetics of the growth of degrader and nondegrader, the line dividing metabolites into xenobiotic and biogenic, yields of degrader and nondegrader from utilization of their parts of substrates, and kinetics of degrader reversion to nondegrader due to instability of the degradative element degraders carry. Experimental activated sludge operated for treatment of a xenobiotic generated data for calibration of the model. With the input of influent xenobiotic concentration, mean cell and hydraulic residence times, and calibrated parameters, the model readily outputs concentrations of degrader, nondegrader, and effluent biogenic residue that closely match the results obtained from experiments.

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Abbreviations

X:

Microbial biomass

X :

Biomass conc. (mg l−1)

Xa :

Degrading biomass

X a :

Degrader conc. (mg l−1)

Xn :

Nondegrading biomass

X n :

Nondegrader conc. (mg l−1)

S:

Xenobiotic (substrate)

S :

Xenobiotic conc. (mg l−1)

S o , S x , S e :

Conc. of influent xenobiotic, effluent (untreated) xenobiotic, and effluent biogenic residues, respectively (mg xenobiotic l−1)

S n :

(Imaginary) conc. of xenobiotic intermediates that have become biogenic (mg xenobiotic l−1)

S o ′ :

(S o -S e ) = ΔS Total removal of xenobiotic substrate (mg xenobiotic l−1)

θ c :

Mean cell residence time (t)

θ :

Hydraulic residence time (t)

M x :

Molecular weight of xenobiotic

M p :

Molecular weight of xenobiotic metabolic intermediates as biogenic substrates

μ mx :

Haldane maximum specific growth rate (t−1)

Ks :

Haldane half saturation constant (mg l−1)

Ki :

Haldane inhibition constant (mg l−1)

μ mb :

Monod maximum specific growth rate (t−1)

Ks2 :

Monod half saturation constant (mg l−1)

y a , y n :

Yield coefficient of Xa and Xn, respectively (g g−1)

k d :

Endogenous decay rate constant (t−1)

Sx a , Sx n :

Fractions of ΔS used for growth by Xa and Xn, respectively

d a :

Deacclimation rate (mg l−1 t−1)

p :

Constant of proportionality to growth rate derived from probability of loss of plasmid at cell division

t :

Time

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the research grant NSC 100-2221-E-212-005-MY3 provided by the National Science Council of Taiwan, the Republic of China. C.H.Wang, C.H. Ho, and J.C. Huang, who performed XCSTR experiments and coauthored previous papers, are heartily thanked.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, DaYeh University, No. 168, University Road, Dacun, Changhua, Taiwan, 51591, Republic of China

    Nyuk-Min Chong

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Correspondence to Nyuk-Min Chong.

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Responsible editor: Michael Matthies

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Chong, NM. Model development with defined biological mechanisms for xenobiotic treatment activated sludge at steady state. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 8567–8575 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-4042-x

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