Modeling of Ideal Suspended Growth Reactors

1.0 Overview of Metabolism

waste products
nutrients
for biosynthesis
anabolism
energy for motility
energy
transport of nutrients, etc.
for biosynthesis

catabolism

chemicals, light
(energy source)

Energy Source:
Phototrophs – light
Chemotrophs – chemical
Carbon Source:
Heterotophs – organic C as carbon source and organic substrate as the e - donor
Autotrophs - CO2 as carbon source; donor is inorganic

2.0 Energetics and Cell Growth: How is energy obtained?

• Carbon (C) & Hydrogen (H) atoms in molecules taken up as food serve as fuel (energetics
& cell growth) because they are not in their most stable form e.g.

CH4 CH3OH H2C=O H2COOH CO2

Oxidation (release of energy)

• Reduced molecules have more energy than oxidized molecules. Therefore, the most
energetically stable form of C is carbon in CO2 & that of H is H2O.
• Cells obtain energy from sugar & organic molecules by allowing the C & H atom to
combine with O2 to produce CO2 + H2O
Organic compounds + O2 CO2 + H2O + energy
 Note however that this does NOT occur in 1 step use of enzymes in
would lead to self-combustion e- transport chain

3.0 Material Balance on Soluble Substance:

Mass Accumulation = Mass in – Mass Out  mass reacted/produced

 dSs 
  v = FSsio − FSs + rV
 dt 

Where r = rss = rate of substrate utilization (for soluble substance balance) OR

r = rXB = rate of biomass growth (for active biomass balance)

Note: S represents soluble constituents subscript denoting the particular

X represents particulate constituents constituent involved

Ss = soluble substrate rss = rate of substrate utilization

rXB = rate of biomass growth XB = active/viable biomass

4.0 Basic Model of a CSTR

Modeling a single CSTR approximates situation in some Activated Sludge models, aerated
lagoons, aerobic digestion, etc.
Assumptions:
1. single CSTR without biomass recycle,
2. growth of aerobic heterotrophic biomass only,
3. soluble organic substrate,
4. the soluble organic substrate is rate limiting.

• The biomass separator return

biomass from the effluent to the reactor.
• The stream Fw removes biomass
from the reactor at a concentration equal
to that in the reactor.

2 Types of Residence Time in the Reactor

𝑉
Hydraulic detention time () for liquid (soluble, inactive) = 𝐹
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (𝑋 +𝑋 )𝑉 𝑉
Solids retention time (c) = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = (𝑋 𝐵+𝑋 𝐷)𝐹𝑤 = 𝐹𝑤
𝐵 𝐷

note that c   ; c =  if there is no recycle

Mass balance around reactor

Mass Accumulation = Input – Output  Generation/Depletion

 dAi 
 v = FA i, o − FA i − (F - Fw )Ai + ri v
 dt 

Ai = mass based concentration of constituents:

Type Rate Equation
For active biomass rXB = XB–bXB
For biomass debris rXD = bfDXB
For soluble substrate rss = -(/Y)XB
5.0 Mass Balance for Active Biomass
O = O - O - FwXB + (Xb - bXB)V

steady no active no active

state biomass biomass
in influent out of filter
because it is 100% efficient
Fw XB = ( - b)XBV

1
=  −b
c

Plug in Monod equation;

  1 
Ss 
Ss K s  + b 
= 1
= −b Ss =  c 
K s + Ss c K s + Ss
  1 
 −  + b 
c 

Note: If c 

K sb
Ss, min = 
 −b

Ss = SS,min (minimum possible effluent concentration)

*Minimun SS bec. without adequate food there will be more lysis than growth. Thus, it will be
difficult to maintain a certain solids concentration.

K s + S s ,o
 c min =
 
 
S s ,o   − b  − K s b
 
 
6.0 Mass Balance on Substrate

 Y ( SS , O − SS )
FS S , O − FwS S − ( F − Fw) SS −   XBV = 0 XB =
Y  ̂

 C  Y ( S S ,O − S S ) 
XB =   
   1 + bC 

7.0 Mass Balance on Biomass Debris

-FwXD + fD.b.XB.V = 0

V
XD = bf DXB
Fw

c  fDbcY ( SS , O − SS ) 
XD =
  1 + bc 

The total solids concentration in a bioreactor, XT is the sum of XD and XB

c  (1 + fDbc)(Y )(SS , O − SS ) 
XT =
  1 + bc 
SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS
1. A CSTR reactor is used for treatment of 50 m3/d of wastewater with BODL of 10,000 mg/L
by methane formation. What hydraulic detention time will result in the maximum BODL
removal per day per unit volume of reactor? What is the resulting effluent soluble substrate
concentration? Assume Y = 0.04 mg VSS/mg BODL, KS = 200 mg BODL/L, b = 0.05/d
and 𝜇̂ = 0.32/d.
ANS: 37.03 mg BOD5/L

2. The City of Legazpi has been directed to upgrade its WWTP to meet the new effluent
standard of 11.1 mg/L BOD5 and 2000 mg/L for VSS. They are currently employing
completely mixed activated sludge system. Estimate the required volume of the aeration
tank.
The following characteristics are available from the existing treatment plant.
Parameter Value
Flowrate 0.150 m3/s
Influent BOD5 Concentration 84.0 mg/L
Y 0.50 mg VSS/mg BOD5 removed
b 0.05/d
𝜇̂ 2.5/d
Ks 100 mg/L BOD5
ANS: 945 m3