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Control tests and kinetics of activated sludge process

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Abstract

Basic activated sludge process kinetics of: (1) complete-mix reactor without sludge recycle; (2) complete-mix reactor with sludge recycle; and (3) plug-flow reactor with sludge recycle, are summarized and illustrated. Some related operational tests and control parameters, such as biodegradability, oxygen uptake rate, sludge acclimation, solids and residuals, sludge settling, depth of sludge blanket, sludge units, and substrate utilization rate, are presented and discussed.

The kinetics and test methods presented in the second part of the paper are for the determination of mean cell residence time and sludge age, net specific growth rate, sludge production, volumetric loading, recirculation ratio, BOD/COD and BOD/TOC ratios, ultimate BOD of microbial cells, effluent soluble BOD, oxygen requirements, treatment efficiency, yield coefficient and endogenous respiration coefficient, growth parameter, sludge volume index, sludge nitrifying ability, and sludge denitrifying ability. Some academic disputes in this field are also discussed and clarified.

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Abbreviations

ASU:

Aerator sludge units

ASU′:

Modified aerator sludge units

AVG:

Aeration basin volume, in gallons

b :

Endogenous respiration or decay coefficient, time−1

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand, mass/volume

BOD5 :

5-day biochemical oxygen demand, mass/volume

BOD5 :

Initial biochemical oxygen demand of influent sewage, mass/volume

BODL :

Ultimate biochemical oxygen demand, mass/volume

BOD5 :

Residual biochemical oxygen demand of effluent, mass/volume

BOD5 :

Biochemical oxygen demand at t days, mass/volume

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand, mass/volume

CSP:

Clarifier sludge percentage

CSU:

Clarifier sludge units

CSU′:

Modified clarifier sludge units

CVG:

Clarifier volume in gallons

CWD:

Clarifier water depth, length

D :

Dilution rate, reciprocal of hydraulic retention time

E BOD :

Percentage of BOD5 removal

E ss :

Percentage of SS removal

f :

Conversion factor between ‘mg/1 TSS’ and `% concentration by volume’

f′:

Ratio of VSS/TSS

FB:

Freeboard, length

κ:

BOD5 reaction constant (base 10, 20°C), time−1

κm :

Maximum rate of specific substrate utilization, time−1

K S :

Michaelis-menten constant, or half velocity coefficient, numerically equal to the substrate concentration when U = κ m /2, mass/volume

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 12181, Troy, NY, U.S.A.

    Lawrence K. Wang

  2. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 02881, Kingston, RI, U.S.A.

    Calvin P. C. Poon

  3. New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, 12233, Albany, NY, U.S.A.

    Mu Hao Wang

Authors
  1. Lawrence K. Wang
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  2. Calvin P. C. Poon
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  3. Mu Hao Wang
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Wang, L.K., Poon, C.P.C. & Wang, M.H. Control tests and kinetics of activated sludge process. Water Air Soil Pollut 8, 315–351 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541918

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541918

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