Sensitivity analysis of autotrophic N removal by a granule based bioreactor: Influence of mass transfer versus microbial kinetics

Anna Katrine Vangsgaard, Miguel Mauricio Iglesias, Krist Gernaey, Barth F. Smets, Gürkan Sin

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Abstract

A comprehensive and global sensitivity analysis was conducted under a range of operating conditions. The relative importance of mass transfer resistance versus kinetic parameters was studied and found to depend on the operating regime as follows: Operating under the optimal loading ratio of 1.90 (gO2/m3/d)/(gN/m3/d), the system was influenced by mass transfer (10% impact on nitrogen removal) and performance was limited by AOB activity (75% impact on
nitrogen removal), while operating above, AnAOB activity was limiting (68% impact on nitrogen removal). The negative effect of oxygen mass transfer had an impact of 15% on nitrogen removal. Summarizing such quantitative analyses led to formulation of an optimal operation window, which serves a valuable tool for diagnosis of performance problems and identification of optimal solutions in nitritation/anammox applications.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume123
Pages (from-to)230-241
ISSN0960-8524
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Autotrophic nitrogen removal
  • Anammox
  • Granular sludge
  • Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
  • Modeling

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