The effect of low sludge age on wastewater fractionation (S(S), S(I))

In lab-scale experiments at the 2-stage activated sludge pilot plant of Vienna's central WWTP it is shown that the wastewater soluble COD concentration, which is inert to a sludge with SRT < 1 d (SI(A)) is about double compared to the S(I) concentration in sludge with SRT > 10 d (SI(B)). Unexpectedly the ratio of SI(A)/SI(B) is independent of the sludge age between SRTs of 0.4 and 1.0 days. The difference between the two S(I) fractions is soluble COD that is readily biodegradable by the sludge with SRT > 10 d. However, it is degraded at a lower maximum growth rate. These results comply with earlier results gained with different methods and at different WWTPs. It is hypothesised that very low sludge ages result in a selection of fast growing bacteria, which can utilise only part of the S(S) in the raw wastewater. The other part of S(S) therefore remains in the wastewater and can thus be utilised for enhanced denitrification in the second stage. It is still unknown beyond which sludge age the soluble inert COD SI(A) starts to decrease, finally reaching the value SI(B) for low loaded systems (SRT > 5 days). From this point on S(I) and S(S) are assumed only to depend on the wastewater composition and not on the sludge age. The assumption of the Activated Sludge Model No.1 that the biodegradable fractions can be modelled as a single substrate and by a single removal kinetic (one Monod term) appears not to be applicable for low sludge ages. Some suggestions for mathematical modelling, design and operation of 2-stage activated sludge systems are given.