Simulation of Nitrification and Its Dynamics in a Rotating Biological Contactor

Abstract

Nitrification in a partially submerged rotating biological contactor was analyzed by computer simulation. Results of the simulation showed that the ammonia flux to the biofilm is a function of its spatial position as it rotates alternately in air and liquid phases. However, the simulation and the steady-state model proposed by the authors gave almost similar results in terms of the average ammonia flux to the biofilm. The latter provides the basis behind the application of the steady-state biofilm kinetics to the nitrification process in a partially submerged rotating biological contactor. Then steady-state kinetics was applied to the analysis of the nitrification process in the dynamic state. A pseudo-steady-state approach was verified using the pulse and step forcing functions.

Dynamic Modelling And Simulation of Rotating Biological Contactors

“…Few o f these models have been applied specifically to a particular attached growth wastewater treatment such as the RBC processes. This is because the b io -film models incorporate a large number o f parameters, many o f which are d iffic u lt to measure [26,27].…”

“…Watanabe [27] developed a mathematical model for carbon oxidation, nitrification and denitrification providing a number o f empirical relationships. W hile a direct solution technique was used, the kinetics were simplified, with zero order intrinsic kinetics being assumed for both nitrification and denitrification, giving overall half order reaction rates v/hen substrate transport was considered.…”