An Approach to the Simulation of a Batch-respirometer

Dynamic models in activated sludge processes have demonstrated to be a reliable and useful instrument in design and management of wastewater treatment plants.The biochemical nature of the processes involved the models which need a specific calibration to local conditions.A common method to determine kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of the biomass or wastewater/sludge fractionations is respirometry.Theoretically, nearly all biomass parameters and fractions can be estimated by respirometry, but a lot of difficulties rise when some parameters, such as saturation and hydrolysis rate constants, have to be drawn from experimental data.The aim of our work is the setting up of a simple method to calibrate Activated Sludge Model No. 1 applying traditional batch respirometric tests together with dynamic simulations of the respirometer itself.