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Modeling aerobic carbon source degradation processes using titrimetric data and combined respirometric–titrimetric data: Experimental data and model structure
Author(s) -
Gernaey Krist,
Petersen Britta,
Nopens Ingmar,
Comeau Yves,
Vanrolleghem Peter A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10336
Subject(s) - respirometer , respirometry , chemistry , degradation (telecommunications) , aeration , activated sludge , carbon fibers , substrate (aquarium) , biomass (ecology) , base (topology) , chromatography , oxygen , environmental chemistry , sewage treatment , organic chemistry , environmental engineering , materials science , environmental science , telecommunications , mathematical analysis , oceanography , mathematics , computer science , composite number , composite material , geology
Abstract Experimental data are presented that resulted from aerobic batch degradation experiments in activated sludge with simple carbon sources (acetate and dextrose) as substrates. Data collection was done using combined respirometric–titrimetric measurements. The respirometer consists of an open aerated vessel and a closed non‐aerated respiration chamber for monitoring the oxygen uptake rate related to substrate degradation. The respirometer is combined with a titrimetric unit that keeps the pH of the activated sludge sample at a constant value by addition of acid and/or base. The experimental data clearly showed that the activated sludge bacteria react with consumption or production of protons during aerobic degradation of the two carbon sources under study. Thus, the cumulative amount of added acid and/or base could serve as a complementary information source on the degradation processes. For acetate, protons were consumed during aerobic degradation, whereas for dextrose protons were produced. For both carbon sources, a linear relationship was found between the amount of carbon source added and the amount of protons consumed (in case of acetate: 0.38 meq/mmol) or produced (in case of dextrose: 1.33 meq/mmol) during substrate degradation. A model taking into account substrate uptake, CO 2 production, and NH 3 uptake for biomass growth is proposed to describe the aerobic degradation of a C x H y O z ‐type carbon source. Theoretical evaluation of this model for reference parameters showed that the proton effect due to aerobic substrate degradation is a function of the pH of the liquid phase. The proposed model could describe the experimental observations with both carbon sources. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 741–753, 2002.