Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method

Vincenzo Torretta, Marco Ragazzi, Ettore Trulli, Giovanni De Feo, Giordano Urbini, Massimo Raboni and Elena Cristina Rada
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Vincenzo Torretta: Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy
Marco Ragazzi: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy
Ettore Trulli: Engineering School, University of Basilicata, viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, I-85100 Potenza, Italy
Giovanni De Feo: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, I–84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
Giordano Urbini: Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy
Massimo Raboni: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, via L. Mancinelli 7, I–20131 Milano (MI), Italy
Elena Cristina Rada: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Pollution control of surface water bodies requires stringent checks on wastewater treatment plants performances. The satisfactory operation of biological treatment, commonly performed by means of activated sludge processes, requires a number of controlling and monitoring procedures. Suitable respirometric techniques for the determination of the kinetic parameters that regulate biological processes have been implemented in order to achieve this aim. This paper describes the results of an experimental research carried out in a conventional Italian municipal wastewater treatment plant. Particularly, the research has been finalized to both evaluate the biological process for the removal of biodegradable pollutants, such as carbonaceous substrates and ammonia nitrogen, and to collect data in order to evaluate a possible plant upgrade. Heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass kinetic parameters have been examined using respirometric techniques based on oxygen uptake measurements. The research performed makes a valuable contribution toward verifying the reliability of the values proposed in the literature for some kinetic parameters, which have been commonly used for a long time.

Keywords: activated sludge; heterotrophic bacteria; autotrophic bacteria; nitrification; kinetic parameters; oxygen uptake (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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