Dynamical model development and parameter identification for an anaerobic wastewater treatment process

This paper deals with the development and the parameter identification of a n anaerobic digestion process model. A two-step (acidogenesis-methanization ) mass-balance model has been considered. The model incorporates electroche mical equilibria in order to include the alkalinity, which has to play a ce ntral role in the related monitoring and control strategy of a treatment pl ant. The identification is based on a set of dynamical experiments designed to cover a wide spectrum of operating conditions that are likely to take p lace in the practical operation of the plant. A step by step identification procedure to estimate the model parameters is presented. The results of 70 days of experiments in a 1-m(3) fermenter are then used to validate the mo del. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.