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Model-based evaluation of three different A2O processes in the presence of carbon and metal dosages

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Abstract

Three different schemes of wastewater treatment consisting of anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic reactors are evaluated. A2O process (anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic reactors with internal and external recycles), reverse R-A2O process (anoxic, anaerobic, and aerobic reactors with external recycle), and inverted I-A2O process (anoxic, anaerobic, and aerobic with internal and external recycles) are considered. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is maintained in the respective aerobic reactors using a proportional–integral controller. Activated sludge model no. 2 (ASM2d) is used for the A2O process and is modified to represent R-A2O and I-A2O processes. On comparison, the R-A2O process reduces the operational cost index (OCI) by 4.2% in comparison with the A2O process with improved TP removal of 32.2%. Metal addition is carried out in the last aerobic reactor and carbon addition is carried out in the first anaerobic reactor in each process. It is observed that with an increase in dosage there is a trade-off between effluent quality index (EQI) and OCI. In the R-A2O process, it is observed that if dissolved oxygen (DO) increases, the phosphorus violations also increase. The combination of DO control with metal and carbon additions resulted in optimized results. Further, evaluation is carried out at different temperatures (10, 15, and 20 °C) by changing the kinetic parameters.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all who assisted in conducting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Telangana, 506004, India

    A. G. Sheik, M. M. Seepana & S. R. Ambati

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  1. A. G. Sheik
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  2. M. M. Seepana
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  3. S. R. Ambati
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Correspondence to S. R. Ambati.

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Editorial responsibility: Senthil Kumar Ponnusamy.

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Sheik, A.G., Seepana, M.M. & Ambati, S.R. Model-based evaluation of three different A2O processes in the presence of carbon and metal dosages. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 6575–6588 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04306-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04306-5

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