ACTIVATED SLUDGE : Kinetic

Model

Assumptions:
1.Complete mixing in aeration tank.
2.Influent substrate concentration remains constant.
3.No microbial solids in raw water.
4.No microbial activity in clarifier.
5.Good efficiency of separation in clarifier and no sludge accumulates
in it.
6.Steady state conditions prevail.
Material balance equation for biomass across full
system.
(dx/dt) va =(Y(ds/dt)u--kdX)Va --XVa /Θc
In steady state conditions (constant MLSS
maintained)
=>(dx/dt)=0
=>1/ Θc =Y(ds/dt)u -- kd
X
=>(ds/dt)=k.SeX Monod’s equation 1st order
k+Se
=>Se = ks(1+kd Θc )
Θc (Yk--kd)--1
 Sludge recycled : because
1.Increased MLVSS-increased efficiency of process.
2.Better flocculation.
3.Improved performance- acclimated biomass.

Material balance equation for

substrate in A.T
(dx/dt) va =QSa +RQSe -- (ds/dt)u va -- (1--R)QSe
under steady state conditions
(ds/dt)u = Q(Sa-Se)
X Va(1/ Θc+ kd)
X = Θc Y Q(Sa-Se)
Va(1+kd Θc )
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

• Concept of mean cell residence time

Mean cell residence time Θc is the time for which
cell remains in the system .
The physiological state of the microorganisms can be
controlled by simply regulating the rate at which
cells are wasted from the system .
Cells could be wasted either directly from the
aeration tank viz Θc =VX/QwX =V/Qw
Or from the recycled line viz Θc =VX/QwX r
MERITS/DEMERITS OF SLUDGE
WASTING FROM THE A.T.
Better process control since microorganism
concentration X,Xr need not be determined.
Larger volume of waste sludge hence larger sludge
handling units.
Concept of mean residence time .
Eg 1#
Q=1000cum /day Va =250 cum
X=3000 mg/l Qw =50 cum/day
Mass of cells leaving the system= 750kg
viz cell remaining in system =750/150 =5 days
Questions : 1. If it is
desirable to retain cells in the system for a longer time how
could be this be achieved in practice?
2. Would the retention time of cells in your opinion have any
bearing on the physiological state of the microorganisms?
3. Can the physiological state of the microorganisms be
controlled? How?
Eg 2#
Q=1000cum /day Va= 250 cum
X=3000cum/day Qw=10cum /day
Xr=1500mg/l
Mass of cells leaving the system =150 kg
Mass of cell in the AT=750 kg
mass of cell remaining in the system for 750/150= 5
days
Question :
What conclusion can be drawn from these two
examples?
 MINIMUM BIOLOGICAL CELL
RETENTION TIME
If cells are removed from the system at a rate faster than the their
generation rate, cell washout will occur.
min Θc = ?
If Θc = Θc min ( min, than rate of cells leaving = rate of cells
generated ….no treatment is possible i.e.
So =Se
1/ Θc =Y(ds/dt)u -- kd
X
1/ Θc min =Y(ds/dt)u -- kd
X
 ,

So=2

So=1.5

So= 1

Cell conc.
curves
Se,
X

Substrate
conc.

M.C.R.T
Θcmin
INFERENCES FROM THE KINETIC
MODEL between So and Se implies that :
Independence

-As long as Θc is held constant ,any change in So will

result in change in X but not in Se .

-It is not necessary to use same influent concentration

for lab as encountered in field to determine kinetic
coefficient .

Advantages ….unknown concentration before start up

ASP OXYGEN REQUIREMENT
Oxygen is the ultimate electron acceptor in an
aerobic process.
Low oxygen concentration causes process failures
Method for computation:
Total oxygen required =Q(BODuo—BODue)
However , not all substrate is oxidized. Part of it is
converted to new cells (synthesis).At steady state
cells wasted = cells formed
Therefore substrate synthesized to new biomass
doesn’t exert any oxygen demand.
C5H7NO2+5O25CO2 +2H2O+NH3
113 32 (Sykes,1975)
5x32 = 1.42 units of O2 per unit of biomass
113 synthesized
Actual O2 required per day
=Q(BODuo—BODue) -- 1.42Q(Yocs(So-Se))
1000
Q=cum/day BOD=mg/l
ocs– unoxidised cells
 II LAWRENCE 1975
O2 requirement = Q[{1-1.42Y}(Se-So)]+1.42KdVaX
1000
EXTENDED AERATION

Major objective :minimization of sludge

Primary settling tank omitted, larger Θc and Θ hence

PST not provided.
Theoretically ,
Absolute growth rate =0 i.e. dy =0
dt
Viz , amount of biomass produced during organic
removal = amount oxidised to provide for energy
requirements
Y(ds/dt)u Va=KdxVa

YQ(So-Se)=KdxVa

Va=YQ(Se-So) (ds/dt)u = Q(So-Se)/Va

KaX
• No sludge is produced
• Poor aggregation of biomass
• Poor settleability
• High energy costs as larger volumes to be kept
mixed and O2 needed for endogenous respiration
is also satisfied.
Tempearture effects on ASP parameters
Arrhenius relationship
d(ln k) = Ea . 1
dt R T2
K= retention rate constant
Ea=activation energy constant
R=gas constant
T=temp
t=temp as continous independent variable
integrating between limits T1 and T2.
Rate
growth

Optimum Enzyme denaturation

---physiological state of bacteria
affected

temp
min
max
ln (k2/k1)=Ea .(T2-T1)
R T2-T1

ln (k2/k1)=const(T2-T1)
Þ k2/k1= e^const(T2-T1)

Þ k2/k1=Θ ^(T2-T1) where Θ= e^const

Þ Biological processes follow arrhenius relationship

within narrow range.

Þ Θ1.01 to 1.04 for ASP