Kinetic models evaluation for chemical organic matter removal prediction in a full-scale primary facultative pond treating municipal wastewater

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on determining the bio-kinetic coefficients of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in full-scale primary facultative ponds (PFPs) system on the basis of 3-year continuous operation. The mean removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solid (TSS) and volatile suspended solid (VSS) were 80, 59 and 49%, respectively. The first-order model paired with continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) and plug flow (PF) regimes, PF k–C*, Stover-Kincannon and Grau second-order models were applied to link COD concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the system and to compare the predictive power of models for the estimation of effluent COD concentrations. The Stover-Kincannon model showed the best adaptability (r2 = 0.9294) with the maximum substrate utilization rate (Umax) of 79.14 g/L· d and saturation constant (KB) of 80.65 g/L· d, whereas the Grau second-order model was the best model to predict outlet COD concentrations (r2 = 0.6925). The computed constants, m and n, of the Grau second-order model were 0.6725 and 15.867 d−1, respectively. While the Stover-Kincannon kinetic rates obtained in this study can be used to design the PFP systems in similar operational conditions, the appropriate prediction of pond behavior can be achieved using the Grau model.