TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of the Modeling Approach between Membrane Bioreactor and Conventional Activated Sludge Processes
AU - Jiang, Tao
AU - Sin, Gürkan
AU - Spanjers, Henri
AU - Nopens, Ingmar
AU - Kennedy, Maria D.
AU - van der Meer, Walter
AU - Futselaar, Harry
AU - Amy, Gary
AU - Vanrolleghem, Peter
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Activated sludge models (ASM) have been developed and largely applied in conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems. The applicability of ASM to model membrane bioreactors (MBR) and the differences in modeling approaches have not been studied in detail. A laboratory-scale MBR was modeled using ASM2d. It was found that the ASM2d model structure can still be used for MBR modeling. There are significant differences related to ASM modeling. First, a lower maximum specific growth rate for MBR nitrifiers was estimated. Independent experiments demonstrated that this might be attributed to the inhibition effect of soluble microbial products (SMP) at elevated concentration. Second, a greater biomass affinity to oxygen and ammonium was found, which was probably related to smaller MBR sludge flocs. Finally, the membrane throughput during membrane backwashing/relaxation can be normalized and the membrane can be modeled as a continuous flow-through point separator. This simplicity has only a minor effect on ASM simulation results; however, it significantly improved simulation speed. Water Environ. Res., 81, 432 (2009).
AB - Activated sludge models (ASM) have been developed and largely applied in conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems. The applicability of ASM to model membrane bioreactors (MBR) and the differences in modeling approaches have not been studied in detail. A laboratory-scale MBR was modeled using ASM2d. It was found that the ASM2d model structure can still be used for MBR modeling. There are significant differences related to ASM modeling. First, a lower maximum specific growth rate for MBR nitrifiers was estimated. Independent experiments demonstrated that this might be attributed to the inhibition effect of soluble microbial products (SMP) at elevated concentration. Second, a greater biomass affinity to oxygen and ammonium was found, which was probably related to smaller MBR sludge flocs. Finally, the membrane throughput during membrane backwashing/relaxation can be normalized and the membrane can be modeled as a continuous flow-through point separator. This simplicity has only a minor effect on ASM simulation results; however, it significantly improved simulation speed. Water Environ. Res., 81, 432 (2009).
KW - biological nutrient removal
KW - modeling
KW - soluble microbial products
KW - conventional activated sludge
KW - membrane bioreactor
U2 - 10.2175/106143008X370377
DO - 10.2175/106143008X370377
M3 - Journal article
VL - 81
SP - 432
EP - 440
JO - Water Environment Research
JF - Water Environment Research
SN - 1061-4303
IS - 4
ER -