RESPIROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ACTIVATED-SLUDGE BEHAVIOR - I - ASSESSMENT OF THE READILY BIODEGRADABLE SUBSTRATE

Respirometric analysis of domestic sewage together with textile, dairy , meat processing, tannery and confectionery wastewaters were carried out for the experimental assessment of the readily biodegradable GOD. The accuracy and the reliability of the experimental procedure was tes ted using synthetic sewage and different wastewater mixtures. The meri t of OUR and NUR measurements was investigated in parallel aerobic and anoxic batch reactors. The OUR data was analysed with specific emphas is to identify the lower plateau associated with the hydrolysis of slo wly biodegradable substrate. The NUR data was corrected for nitrite fo rmation to provide an accurate account of electron acceptor consumptio n. The respirometric procedure and especially the effect of the initia l substrate to biomass F/M (C-T1/X-T1) ratio was investigated using mo del simulation of the respirometry curve together with the collected e xperimental data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.