Model-based estimation of an anaerobic reductive dechlorination process via an attenuated total reflectionfourier transform infrared sensor

Abstract

Model-based software sensors were built for the estimation of the process variables: cosubstrate, mineral chloride ion, biomass and acetic acid from an anaerobic reductive dechlorination process in a fixed-bed bioreactor, without any the knowledge of the bioprocess kinetics. The estimations were accomplished based only on measurements of chlorinated compounds, obtained by gas chromatography and on-line by an attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) sensor. In addition, the bioreaction rate of this process was estimated by an observer-based estimator, and validated indirectly by the toxic compound analytical data.