11/26/2023

DESIGN TEMPLATE
suspended growth
treatment processes

Prof. Nguyễn Phước Dân

Modeling suspended growth treatment processes

The purpose is to illustrate:
1. the development of biomass and substrate balances,
2. the prediction of effluent biomass and soluble substrate concentrations,
3. the prediction of the reactor biomass and MLSS/MLVSS concentrations and amount of waste
sludge produced daily, and
4. the prediction of the oxygen requirements.

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Suspended Growth Treatment Processes

Schematic diagram of activated sludge process:

(a) with wasting from the sludge return line and
(b) with wasting from the aeration tank

Solid retention time

▪ Assuming that the solids inventory is negligible compared to that in the aeration tank,
▪ the SRT is determined by dividing the mass of solids in the aeration tank by the solids removed daily
via the effluent and by wasting for process control:

𝑉𝑋
𝑆𝑅𝑇 =
𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅

where SRT = solids retention time, d

V = reactor volume (i.e., aeration tank), m3
Q = influent flowrate, m3/d
X = concentration of biomass in the aeration tank, g VSS/m3
Qw = waste sludge flowrate, m3/d
Xe = concentration of biomass in the effluent, g VSS/m3
XR = concentration of biomass in the return activated sludge line from the clarifier, g VSS/m3

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Solid retention time

𝑉𝑋
𝑆𝑅𝑇 =
𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅

1 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅
=
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑉𝑋

1 𝑉𝑟𝑋 𝑟𝑋
= = = 𝜇𝑛𝑒𝑡
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑉𝑋 𝑋

▪ At steady state operation, Q, S and X = const

▪ net = net biomass growth rate per day = the solids wasting rate
▪ For a CMAS system, the reactor effluent dissolved substrate concentration = the reactor concentration

Biomass Mass Balance

Rate of accumulation rate of flow of
rate of flow of net growth of
of microorganism microorganism
within the system = microorganism into
the system boundary
- out of the system + microorganism within the
boundary
boundary boundary

Accumulation = Inflow - Outflow + net growth

𝑑𝑋
𝑉 = 𝑄𝑋𝑜 − 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅 + 𝑟𝑔 𝑉
𝑑𝑡
where dX/dt = rate of change of biomass concentration in reactor measured as g VSS/m3.d
V = reactor volume (i.e., aeration tank), m3.
Q = influent flowrate, m/d
Xo = concentration of biomass in influent, g VSS/m
Qw = waste sludge flowrate, m/d
Xe = concentration of biomass in effluent, g VSS/m
XR = concentration of biomass in return line from clarifier, g VSS/m3
rx = net rate of biomass production, g VSS/m3.d

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Biomass Mass Balance

If it is assumed that:
▪ The concentration of microorganisms in the influent can be neglected and
▪ Steady-state conditions exist (dX/dt = 0),
𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅 = 𝑟𝑋 𝑉

𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑅 𝑟𝑠𝑢
𝑟𝑋 = 𝑌𝑟𝑠𝑢 − 𝑏𝑋 (Eq. 3) =𝑌 −𝑏
𝑉𝑋 𝑋
1 𝑟𝑠𝑢
= −𝑌 −𝑏 (Eq. 4)
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑋
𝑄(𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆) 1 𝑌𝑄(𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆)
𝑟𝑠𝑢 = = −𝑏
𝑉 𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑉𝑋
The effluent substrate concentration X:
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆
Eq. 4 𝑋= (Eq. 5)
𝜏 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇)

Substrate Mass Balance

The mass balance for substrate utilization in the aeration tank:
Accumulation = inflow - outflow + generation - utilization
𝑑𝑆
𝑉 = 𝑄𝑆0 − 𝑄𝑆 + 𝑟𝑠𝑢 𝑉
𝑑𝑡
where So = influent soluble substrate concentration, g/m3
Assuming steady-state conditions (dS/dt = 0),
𝑉 𝑘𝑋𝑆
𝑆0 − 𝑆 =
𝑄 𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
𝑉 𝑘𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑄𝑌
(Eq. 5) 𝑆0 − 𝑆 = 𝑆0 − 𝑆
𝑄 𝐾𝑠 +𝑆 𝑉 1+ 𝑏 𝑆𝑅𝑇

The effluent soluble substrate concentration:

𝐾𝑠 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇)
𝑆=
𝑆𝑅𝑇(𝑌𝑘 − 𝑏) − 1

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Mixed Liquor Solids Concentration

The total MLVSS in the aeration tank = the biomass concentration X + nbVSS concentration Xi :
𝑋𝑇 = 𝑋 − 𝑋𝑖
A materials balance on the inert material:
𝑑𝑋𝑖 𝑋𝑖 𝑉
𝑉 = 𝑄𝑋𝑜,𝑖 − + 𝑟𝑋,𝑖 𝑉
𝑑𝑡 𝑆𝑅𝑇

where Xo,i = nbVSS concentration in influent, g/m3

Xi = nbVSS concentration in aeration tank, g/m3
rX,i = rate of nbVSS production from cell debris, g/m3.d
𝑋𝑖 𝑉
Steady-state conditions exist (dXi/dt = 0) 0 = 𝑄𝑋𝑜,𝑖 − + (𝑓𝑏 )(𝑏)𝑋𝑉
𝑆𝑅𝑇
𝑆𝑅𝑇
𝑋𝑖 = 𝑋𝑜,𝑖 + (𝑓𝑏 )(𝑏)𝑋(𝑆𝑅𝑇)
𝜏
The total MLVSS concentration:
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇
(Eq. 5) 𝑋𝑇 = + (𝑓𝑏 ) 𝑏 𝑋 𝑆𝑅𝑇 + 𝑋𝑜,𝑖
𝜏 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇) 𝜏
(A) (B) (C)
Heterotrophic biomass Cell debris nbVSS in influent

Solids production
The amount of VSS produced and wasted daily:
𝑄𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆 (𝑓𝑏 ) 𝑏 𝑄𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇
𝑃𝑋,𝑉𝑆𝑆 = + + 𝑄𝑋𝑜,𝑖
1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇) 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇)
(A) (B) (C)
Heterotrophic biomass Cell debris nbVSS in influent

For AS process, the soluble substrate concentration is very low (bsCOD < 5 mg/L) at SRTs > 2 d
Inorganic solids in the influent (TSS – VSS) and in the biomass = 10 - 15 % of TSS.
Assuming a typical biomass VSS/TSS ratio = 0.85:
𝐴 𝐵
𝑃𝑋,𝑉𝑆𝑆 = + + 𝐶 + 𝑄 𝑇𝑆𝑆𝑜 − 𝑉𝑆𝑆𝑜
0.85 0.85

where PX,TSS = net waste activated sludge produced each day, kg TSS/d
TSSo = influent wastewater TSS concentration, g/m3
VSSo = influent wastewater VSS concentration, g/m3

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Solids production
The mass of MLVSS and MLSS:
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝐿𝑉𝑆𝑆 = 𝑋𝑉𝑆𝑆 𝑉 = 𝑃𝑋,𝑉𝑆𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇𝑋,𝑉𝑆𝑆
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝐿𝑆𝑆 = 𝑋𝑇𝑆𝑆 𝑉 = 𝑃𝑋,𝑇𝑆𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇𝑋,𝑇𝑆𝑆

sbCOD, biomass, and MLVSS concentrations versus

SRT for complete-mix activated sludge process.

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The Observed Yield

The observed yield Yobs is based on the amount of solids production measured relative to the substrate
removal:
𝑌 (𝑓𝑏 ) 𝑏 𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆 𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑄𝑋𝑜,𝑖
𝑌𝑜𝑏𝑠 = + +
1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇) 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇) 𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆
(A) (B) (C)
Heterotrophic biomass Cell debris nbVSS in influent
where Yobs = g VSS/g substrate removed

For wastewaters with no nbVSS in the influent the solids production consists of only active biomass and
cell debris:
𝑌 (𝑓𝑏 ) 𝑏 𝑌 𝑆𝑅𝑇
𝑌𝑜𝑏𝑠 = +
1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇) 1 + 𝑏(𝑆𝑅𝑇)

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Oxygen Requirements
▪ The oxygen required for the biodegradation of carbonaceous material is determined from a mass
balance using the bCOD concentration of the wastewater treated and the amount of biomass
wasted from the system per day.
▪ If all of the bCOD were oxidized to CO2 and H2O, the oxygen demand = bCOD concentration,
▪ But bacteria only oxidize a portion of the bCOD to provide energy and use a portion of the bCOD for
cell growth
▪ Oxygen consumed for endogenous respiration depends on the SRT
▪ For a suspended growth process, the oxygen used:

Oxygen used = bCOD removed – COD of waste sludge

𝑅𝑜 = 𝑄(𝑆0 − 𝑆) − 1.42𝑃𝑋,𝑏𝑖𝑜

where Ro = oxygen required, kg/d

PX,bio = biomass as VSS wasted per day, kg/d

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Design and Operating Parameters

Food to Microorganism Ratio (F/M)

The F/M ratio is defined as the rate of BOD or COD applied per unit volume of mixed liquor:

𝐹 𝑄𝑆0
=
𝑀 𝑉𝑋
𝐹 𝑆0
=
𝑀 𝜏𝑋
Where F/M = food to biomass ratio, g BOD or bsCOD/g VSS.day
Q = influent wastewater flowrate, m3/ngày
So = influent BOD or bsCOD concentration, g/m3
V = aeration tank volume, m3
X = mixed liquor biomass concentration in the aeration tank, g/m3
τ = hydraulic retention time of aeration tank, V/Q, day

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Design and Operating Parameters

Food to Microorganism Ratio (F/M)

Removal efficiency E, %BOD or bsCOD removed:

𝑆0 −𝑆
𝐸, % = × 100
𝑆0

𝐹 𝐸 𝑄𝑆𝑜 𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆 𝑄 𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆
= =
𝑀 100 𝑉𝑋𝑆𝑜 𝑉𝑋

𝐹 𝐸 𝑟𝑠𝑢
=
𝑀 100 𝑋
The specific substrate utilization rate, U:
𝑟𝑠𝑢 𝑘𝑆 For AS systems designed for municipal wastewater:
𝑈= =
𝑋 𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆 ▪ At SRT = 20 – 30 d, the corresponding F/M = 0.10 - 0.05 g
BOD/g VSS.d
1 𝐹 𝐸
= 𝑌𝑈 − 𝑏 = 𝑌 −𝑏 ▪ At SRTs = 5 = 7 d, the F/M = 0.3 - 0.5 g BOD/g VSS.d,
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑀 100

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Design and Operating Parameters

Organic Volumetric Loading Rate
(𝑄)(𝑆0 )
𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑔 = 𝑔
(𝑉)(103 )
𝑘𝑔
Where Lorg = volumetric organic loading rate,, kg BOD/m3.d
Q = influent wastewater flowrate,, m3/d
S0 = influent BOD concentration,, g/m3
V = aeration tank volume, m3

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Process Performance and Stability

For a specified waste, a given biological community, and a particular set of environmental conditions, the
kinetic coefficients Y, k, Ks, and b are fixed.

Effluent substrate concentration and removal efficiency versus SRT for: (a) complete-mix reactors with recycle,
(b) plug flow reactor with recycle, and (c) plug flow and complete-mix plotted on the same graph for comparison

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Modeling Plug-Flow Reactors

Lawrence and McCarty (1970) have made two simplifying assumptions that lead to a useful kinetic model
of the plug-flow reactor:
▪ The concentration of microorganisms in the influent to the reactor is approximately the same as that in
the effluent from the reactor. This assumption applies only if SRT/t > 5.
▪ The rate of change of substrate concentration as the waste passes through the reactor is given by the
following expression:
𝑑𝑆 𝑘𝑆𝑋ത
=−
𝑑𝑡 𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
𝑋ത = The average concentration of microorganisms in the reactor

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Modeling Plug-Flow Reactors

1 𝑌𝑘(𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆)
= −𝑏
𝑆𝑅𝑇 𝑆𝑜 − 𝑆 + (1 + 𝑅)𝐾𝑆 𝑙𝑛 𝑆𝑖 /𝑆
where So = influent concentration
S = effluent concentration
Si = influent concentration to reactor after dilution with recycle flow

𝑆𝑜 −𝑅𝑆
𝑆𝑖 =
(1+𝑅)

Where R = clarifier return sludge recycle ratio

The true plug-flow recycle system is theoretically more efficient in the stabilization of most soluble wastes than in
the continuous-flow stirred-tank recycle system.

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Example 1

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