Modelling the nitrification in a full-scale tertiary biological aerated filter unit

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Wastewater biofiltration is crucial for nutrient removal in treatment plants.
• Nitrifying biofilters are key components in tertiary treatment processes.
• Accurate modeling is essential for optimizing biofilter performance and design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess a wastewater biofiltration model's capacity to simulate a plant-sized tertiary nitrifying biofilter.
• To calibrate and validate the model using diverse datasets from a real-world facility.
• To ensure the model's predictive capability across different spatial and temporal scales.

Main Methods:

• Model calibration using grab samples from within the biofilter media.
• Model validation against a year-long daily plant monitoring dataset.
• Comparative analysis of model predictions and observed data, with parameter adjustments as needed.

Main Results:

• The calibrated model accurately predicted most nutrient variables for both datasets.
• A slight underestimation of nitrifying efficiency was observed during low ammonia load periods due to oxygen transfer overestimation.
• Statistical scores confirmed model accuracy, though suspended solids filtration showed some weakness.
• A single parameter set effectively modeled both datasets, with most parameters aligning with literature values.

Conclusions:

• The developed wastewater biofiltration model demonstrates robust predictive capabilities for nitrifying biofilters.
• The model's performance across different scales validates its utility for optimizing wastewater treatment processes.
• Further refinement may be needed for suspended solids filtration and oxygen transfer under specific conditions.