Activated sludge production parameters and nutrient content of organic sludge components

An important part of biological treatment system design is quantifying the sludge production and the nutrient removal capacity. The objectives of this project were to determine the model parameters associated with sludge production and the nutrient content of sludge components. A complete sludge retention experiment was conducted in a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor operated with alternating growth and famine periods. The General ASDM parameter set was found to better fit the experimental data than the Metcalf and Eddy parameter set, mainly to characterize endogenous respiration and the heterotrophic biomass concentration. An influent unbiodegradable organic particulate fraction value of 0.16 g COD/g COD was determined by calibration of the accumulated sludge total COD, suspended solids and heterotrophic biomass concentrations. The nutrient content of the accumulated endogenous residue and influent unbiodegradable organic particulate components were calibrated to 0.030 and 0.100 g N/g COD and 0.035 and 0.008 g P/g COD, respectively.