BATCH TEST FOR MEASUREMENT OF READILY BIODEGRADABLE COD AND ACTIVE ORGANISM CONCENTRATIONS IN MUNICIPAL WASTE-WATERS

In terms of the current mathematical models for activated sludge syste ms, it is necessary to categorise the influent COD into five fractions : unbiodegradable soluble and particulate, readily and slowly biodegra dable, and heterotroph active biomass. Methods available to quantify t hese fractions are complex and time-consuming or require activated slu dge seed acclimatised to the waste water which may not be available. T he results of this study present a batch test procedure to quantify tw o of the influent COD fractions - readily biodegradable COD (RBCOD) an d heterotroph active biomass. The batch test method is relatively simp le and requires neither acclimatised activated sludge seed nor indepen dent determination of unbiodegradable COD. For RBCOD concentrations, r esults from the batch test correlate closely with those from conventio nal methods.