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Reaction rate constants and mean population percentage for nitrifiers in an alternating oxidation ditch system

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Abstract

This paper presents a methodology for the determination of reaction rate constants for nitrifying bacteria and their mean population percentage in biomass in an alternating oxidation ditch system. The method used is based on the growth rate equations of the ASM1 model (IWA) (Henze et al. in Activated sludge models ASM1, ASM2, ASM2d, and ASM3. IWA Scientific and Technical Report no. 9, IWA Publishing, London, UK, 2000) and the application of mass balance equations for nitrifiers and ammonium nitrogen in an operational cycle of the ditch system. The system consists of two ditches operating in four phases. Data from a large-scale oxidation ditch pilot plant with a total volume of 120 m3 within an experimental period of 8 months was used. Maximum specific growth rate for autotrophs (μ A) and the half-saturation constant for ammonium nitrogen (K NH) were found to be 0.36 day−1 and 0.65 mgNH4–N/l, respectively. Additionally, the average population percentage of the nitrifiers in the biomass was estimated to be around 3%.

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Abbreviations

V :

Volume of each ditch, (m3)

θ c :

Sludge retention time, (day)

θ :

V/Q = hydraulic retention time, (day)

Q in :

Influent wastewater flow rate, (m3/day)

Q eff :

Effluent wastewater flow rate, (m3/day)

Q w :

Waste sludge flow rate, (m3/day)

t c :

Total time length of one cycle, (min or day)

t n :

Nitrification time per tank, (min or day)

t d :

Denitrification time per tank, (min or day)

t c :

2t n + 2t d

α :

tn/tc nitrification time fraction

r gn :

Growth rate of nitrifiers, (mg/l min)

r n :

Nitrification rate, (mg/l min)

Rgn :

Average growth rate of nitrifiers, (mg/l min)

R n :

Average nitrification rate, (mg/l min)

b A :

Autotrophic decay rate, (day−1)

Y A :

Yield constant for autotrophic organisms (nitrifiers), (gr cell COD formed/gr N oxidized)

μ A :

Maximum specific growth rate of autotrophs, (day−1)

K NH :

Half-saturation constant for NH4–N, (mg NH4–N/l

K OA :

Saturation constant for oxygen during aerobic growth of autotrophs, (mg O2/l)

M n :

Mass of nitrified nitrogen (NH4–N converted to NO x –N), (mg/cycle)

Mgn :

Mass of produced nitrifiers in the system, (mg/cycle)

ΤΝin :

Total influent nitrogen (ΤΝin = SNHin + SNoin + SNOxin), (mg/l)

ΤΝout :

Total effluent nitrogen, (mg/l)

ΤΚΝ:

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN = SNH + SNo), (mg/l)

SNHin :

NH4–N in the influent, (mg/l)

SNHout :

NH4–N in the outlet, (mg/l)

SNoin :

Organic nitrogen in the influent, (mg/l)

SNoout :

Organic nitrogen in the effluent, (mg/l)

Νs :

Nitrogen used for synthesis, (mg/l)

SNOxin :

NOx-N in the influent, (mg/l)

SNOxout :

NOx-N in the effluent, (mg/l)

So:

Concentration of dissolved oxygen in the aeration ditch, (mg/l)

Nc :

Nitrification capacity, (mg/l)

i xΒ :

Nitrogen content of the biomass (grN/gMLVSS or grN/grCOD)

Χ A :

Concentration of nitrifiers in each ditch, (mg/l)

Χ outA :

Concentration of nitrifiers in the effluent, (mg/l)

X vss :

Concentration of biomass, (mg/l)

k :

ΧA/Χvss = fraction of nitrifiers in the biomass

BODin:

Influent BOD concentration, (mg/l)

Y H :

Yield constant for heterotrophic organisms, (gr cell COD formed/gr COD oxidized)

k d :

Decay rate constant for heterotrophic organisms (day−1)

Y obs :

Observed yield constant for heterotrophic organisms including decay rate, (gr cell COD formed/gr COD oxidized)

C/N:

Ratio of carbon to nitrogen influent, (gr BOD/gr TKN)

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the personnel of the Sanitary Engineering Research and Development Center (SERDC) of the Athens Water Company (E.Y.D.A.P) for their help and support during the elaboration of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, Zografou, 15773, Athens, Greece

    I. D. Mantziaras & A. Katsiri

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  1. I. D. Mantziaras
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  2. A. Katsiri
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Correspondence to I. D. Mantziaras or A. Katsiri.

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Mantziaras, I.D., Katsiri, A. Reaction rate constants and mean population percentage for nitrifiers in an alternating oxidation ditch system. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 34, 57–65 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-010-0446-2

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