Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Wastewater Treatment Plant Using the Cannibal Process
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 2
Abstract
The Combined Activated Sludge Anaerobic Digestion Model (CASADM) was configured to represent the operational results of a full-scale Cannibal wastewater treatment plant that operated over a 2-year period and had a net sludge yield that was low, approximately g volatile suspended solids/g chemical oxygen demand (g VSS/g COD) removed based on the model. CASADM accurately described available information on effluent quality and mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) concentrations in each tank. Modeling results led to important insights into what led to the low net sludge yield of this Cannibal plant. For example, widespread net decay or slow growth [negative or very large positive values of solids retention times (SRTs)] of biomass caused total active biomass to be only 13%–21% of the MLVSS, and about 28% of the total input COD was converted to in the system. Input of active biomass and a low sludge-wasting rate proved to be key factors causing net decay or slow growth of active biomass, which, when combined with significant production, led to low net sludge yield.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (including the CASADM model code and model results).
Acknowledgments
Jianglei Xiong was financially supported by the China Scholarship Council. Siemens Water Technology supported data collection and partially supported the development of CASADM.
References
Aquino, S. F., and D. C. Stuckey. 2008. “Integrated model of the production of soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in anaerobic chemostats during transient conditions.” Biochem. Eng. J. 38 (2): 138–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2007.06.010.
Batstone, D. J., J. Keller, I. Angelidaki, S. V. Kalyuzhnyi, S. G. Pavlostathis, A. Rozzi, W. T. M. Sanders, H. Siegrist, and V. A. Vavilin. 2002. “The IWA anaerobic digestion model no 1 (ADM1).” Water Sci. Technol. 45 (10): 65–73. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2002.0292.
Bolzonella, D., F. Fatone, P. Pavan, and F. Cecchi. 2005. “Anaerobic fermentation of organic municipal solid wastes for the production of soluble organic compounds.” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 44 (10): 3412–3418. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie048937m.
Chon, D., M. Rome, H. Kim, and C. Park. 2011a. “Investigating the mechanism of sludge reduction in activated sludge with an anaerobic side-stream reactor.” Water Sci. Technol. 63 (1): 93–99. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.015.
Chon, D., M. Rome, Y. M. Kim, K. Y. Park, and C. Park. 2011b. “Investigation of the sludge reduction mechanism in the anaerobic side-stream reactor process using several control biological wastewater treatment processes.” Water Res. 45 (18): 6021–6029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.051.
Coma, M., S. Rovira, J. Canals, and J. Colprim. 2013. “Minimization of sludge production by a side-stream reactor under anoxic conditions in a pilot plant.” Bioresour. Technol. 129 (Feb): 229–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.055.
Datta, T., Y. Liu, and R. Goel. 2009. “Evaluation of simultaneous nutrient removal and sludge reduction using laboratory scale sequencing batch reactors.” Chemosphere 76 (5): 697–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.02.040.
de Silva, D., and B. Rittmann. 2000. “Nonsteady-state modeling of multispecies activated-sludge processes.” Water Environ. Res. 72 (5): 554–565. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143000X138139.
Goel, R. K., and D. R. Noguera. 2006. “Evaluation of sludge yield and phosphorus removal in a Cannibal solids reduction process.” J. Environ. Eng. 132 (10): 1331–1337. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2006)132:10(1331).
Guo, W., S. Yang, W. Xiang, X. Wang, and N. Ren. 2013. “Minimization of excess sludge production by in-situ activated sludge treatment processes—A comprehensive review.” Biotechnol. Adv. 31 (8): 1386–1396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.06.003.
Hao, X., Q. Wang, Y. Cao, and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht. 2011. “Evaluating sludge minimization caused by predation and viral infection based on the extended activated sludge model No. 2d.” Water Res. 45 (16): 5130–5140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.07.013.
Henze, M., W. Gujer, T. Mino, and M. C. M. Van Loosdrecht. 2000. Activated sludge models ASM1, ASM2, ASM2d and ASM3. London: International Water Association Publishing.
Jeppsson, U., C. Rosen, J. Alex, J. Copp, K. V. Gernaey, M. N. Pons, and P. A. Vanrolleghem. 2006. “Towards a benchmark simulation model for plant-wide control strategy performance evaluation of WWTPs.” Water Sci. Technol. 53 (1): 287–295. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2006.031.
Jimenez, J. A., E. J. La Motta, and D. S. Parker. 2005. “Kinetics of removal of particulate chemical oxygen demand in the activated-sludge process.” Water Environ. Res. 77 (5): 437–446. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143005X67340.
Johnson, B. R., G. T. Daigger, and J. T. Novak. 2008. “The use of ASM based models for the simulation of biological sludge reduction processes.” Water Pract. Technol. 3 (3): 3–11. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2008.074.
Kim, Y. M., D. H. Chon, H. S. Kim, and C. Park. 2012. “Investigation of bacterial community in activated sludge with an anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) to decrease the generation of excess sludge.” Water Res. 46 (13): 4292–4300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.04.040.
Labelle, M., P. L. Dold, and Y. Comeau. 2015. “Mechanisms for reduced excess sludge production in the Cannibal process.” Water Environ. Res. 87 (8): 687–696. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143015X14338845156669.
La Motta, E. J., J. A. McCorquodale, and J. A. Rojas. 2007. “Using the kinetics of biological flocculation and the limiting flux theory for the preliminary design of activated sludge systems. I: Model development.” J. Environ. Eng. 133 (1): 104–110. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2007)133:1(104).
Laspidou, C. S., and B. E. Rittmann. 2002a. “A unified theory for extracellular polymeric substances, soluble microbial products, and active and inert biomass.” Water Res. 36 (11): 2711–2720. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00413-4.
Laspidou, C. S., and B. E. Rittmann. 2002b. “Non-steady state modeling of extracellular polymeric substances, soluble microbial products, and active and inert biomass.” Water Res. 36 (8): 1983–1992. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00414-6.
Liu, Y., and J. Tay. 2001. “Strategy for minimization of excess sludge production from the activated sludge process.” Biotechnol. Adv. 19 (2): 97–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0734-9750(00)00066-5.
Ni, B. J., B. E. Rittmann, and H. Q. Yu. 2010. “Modeling predation processes in activated sludge.” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 105 (6): 1021–1030. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.22632.
Nopens, I., G. Sin, T. Jiang, L. D’Antonio, S. Stama, J. Zhao, and P. A. Vanrolleghem. 2007. “Model-based optimisation of the biological performance of a sidestream MBR.” Water Sci. Technol. 56 (6): 135–143. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2007.640.
Novak, J. T., D. H. Chon, B. Curtis, and M. Doyle. 2007. “Biological solids reduction using the cannibal process.” Water Environ. Res. 79 (12): 2380–2386. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143007X183862.
Rittmann, B. E., and W. E. Langeland. 1985. “Simultaneous denitrification with nitrification in single-channel oxidation ditches.” J. (Water Pollut. Control Fed.) 57 (4): 300–308.
Rittmann, B. E., and P. L. McCarty. 2001. Environmental biotechnology: Principles and applications. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Tchobanoglous, G., H. D. Stensel, R. Tsuchihashi, and F. Burton. 2014. Wastewater engineering: Treatment and resource recovery. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Van Ginkel, S. W., J. Miceli, B. Kim, Z. Yang, M. Young, A. Marcus, and B. E. Rittmann. 2018. “Determining the mechanism for low sludge yields in the Cannibal solids reduction system.” Water Environ. Res. 90 (1): 42–47. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143017X14839994523947.
Young, M. N., R. Krajmalnik-Brown, W. Liu, M. L. Doyle, and B. E. Rittmann. 2013a. “The role of anaerobic sludge recycle in improving anaerobic digester performance.” Bioresour. Technol. 128 (Jan): 731–737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.079.
Young, M. N., A. K. Marcus, and B. E. Rittmann. 2013b. “A combined activated sludge anaerobic digestion model (CASADM) to understand the role of anaerobic sludge recycling in wastewater treatment plant performance.” Bioresour. Technol. 136 (May): 196–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.090.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 20, 2018
Accepted: May 30, 2019
Published online: Dec 3, 2019
Published in print: Feb 1, 2020
Discussion open until: May 3, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.