This article proposes a simple "in-situ" pulse respirometric method for the estimation of four important kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. The method is validated in a suspended biomass nitrifying reactor for the determination of (i) maximum oxygen uptake rate (OUR(ex)max), (ii) oxidation yield (f(E)), (iii) biomass growth yield (f(S)), and (iv) affinity constant (K(S)). OUR(ex)max and f(E...

The use of soil health indicators linked to microbial activities, such as key enzymes and respirometric profiles, helps assess the natural attenuation potential of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons. In this study, the intrinsic physicochemical characteristics, biological activity and biodegradation potential were recorded for two soils with different contamination histories (>5 years and <1 ...

This paper presents the results of an evaluation of a toxicity mitigation control strategy using the IWA simulation benchmark (Copp et al., 2002; Copp, 2001). The aim of the proposed strategy is to minimise the impact of a toxic influent shock load on process performance. To do this, the strategy makes use of a respiration rate measurement to detect toxic events and uses an equalisation tank to...

Different aspects are reviewed of the management of emulsified petroleum products in mechanical engineering industries with reference to the waste problem. Poor quality of make-up water, poor hygienic conditions, inadequate design of feed systems and failure to use a suitable bactericide influence the volume that has to be discarded and then subjected to waste treatment. The inadequacy of the f...

Microalgae-bacteria consortia have been proposed as alternatives to conventional biological processes treat different types of wastewaters, including animal slurry. In this work, a microalgae-bacteria (ABACO) model for wastewater treatment is proposed, it being calibrated and validated using pig The includes the most relevant features microalgae, such light dependence, endogenous respiration, g...

In this experimental work the ozone action on the depuration of olive oil mill wastewater is studied for different operational conditions based on an actual industrial treatment plant. It was verified that the application of a Mn-Ce-O catalyst prepared at the laboratory, with a Mn/Ce molar proportion of 70/30, enhances the depuration efficiency and the effluent biodegradability. Ozonation opera...