COD FRACTIONATION IN WASTE-WATER CHARACTERIZATION - THE STATE-OF-THE-ART

Wastewater characterization is now regarded as an indispensable step y ielding all the necessary information for a reliable modelling and des ign of biological treatment processes. It should mainly include fracti onation of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), and assessment of signifi cant kinetic and stoichiometric coefficients. COD fractionation involv es identification of inert and biodegradable COD together with readily biodegradable and slowly biodegradable fractions. Experimental method s developed or selected for the assessment of COD fractions should be compatible with the mathematical models defining biological treatment and should yield consistent and reliable values. A critical review of available experimental methodology is provided and values of significa nt COD components determined in this work and reported in the literatu re, for different types of domestic and industrial wastewaters are out lined.