Endogenous process in nutrient removal systems

Visiting researcher: Xiuqin Cao, Tel: +31 15 278 1551

e-mail: X.Q.Cao@tnw.tudelft.nl; Caoxiuqin@bicea.edu.cn
Promotor: Prof. dr.ir.Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht; Prof. dr. Xiaodi Hao
Supervisor: Dr.ir. Cristian Picioreanu
Institute: Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology,
Environmental Biotechnology group
Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
The Research Centre for Sustainable Environmental Biotechnology
Project term: November 2003 November 2007
Financed by: KNAW, The Netherlands and Beijing Education Committee, China


Description

Endogenous processes are very important in biological wastewater treatment processes.
It accounts for more than 50% of total oxygen consumption for COD removal. Endogenous
respiration reduces the sludge production and thereby helps in reducing the costs of
wastewater treatment.

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ASM1
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ASM1
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Decay
1 Hydrolysis 2 Growth 3 3 Endogenous respiration Decay
1 Hydrolysis 11 Hydrolysis 22 Growth 33 33 Endogenous respiration
To date, little experimental research has been done about the endogenous processes, and
therefore they have also been oversimplified in the description of activated sludge
mathematical models. In fact, several complicated biological conversions will occur in these
processes, such as maintenance, predation, lysis,
cryptic-growth and so on.

This project aims to describe mechanisms
underlying endogenous respiration processes. At
the same time, in order to practically use for
simulation, design and operation of WWTP,
quantitative analysis and mathematic model
should be developed for determining and
simulating the contribution of every part of
endogenous process and to get more insight into
the kinetics and stoichiometry of endogenous
processes.



Activated Sludge Models
(Heterotrophic Bacteria)
Substrate Ss Substrate Ss Storage X
STO
Storage X
STO
growth
maintenance
storage
Turnover of
cell
materials
Osmotic work to
maintain concentration
gradients
Cell
motility
maintenance
Cryptic
growth
growth
Live
Biomass X
H
Biomass X
H
Protozoa
Inert X
I
p
r
e
d
a
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o
n
l
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Dead
?

The goal of this project is to gain an
in-depth and mechanistic
understanding of endogenous
processes. This will be used to
develop and validate a reliable model
for endogenous processes, which can
be used to simulate lab-scale and full-
scale wastewater treatment processes.





Mechanism of endogenous process
References
Dawes & Ribbons (1962). The Endogenous metabolism of microorganisms. Ann. Rev.
Microbiol. 16: p241-265.

Droste RL (1998). Endogenous Decay and Bioenergetics Theory for Aerobic Wastewater
Treatment. Water Res, 32: p410-418.

Van Loosdrecht MCM & Henze M. (1999). Maintainance, Endogenous Respiration, Lysis,
Decay and Predation. Water Sci Technol. 39 p107-117.