Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Structural and Biochemical Studies of Proteins Through Thermal Shift Assays
Published on: August 9, 2024
Substrate utilization kinetic model for biological treatment process
1Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Agricultural Research, Science and Education Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933.
Abstract:
The applicability of Contois' kinetic equation to aerobic and anaerobic treatments of organic wastes is investigated. A refractory coefficient to account for the nonbiodegradable portion of the organic substrates in the digester is incorporated into the kinetic equation. The kinetic equation is applied to the data for aerobic digestions of organic substrates and for anaerobic treatment of dairy wastes. They all show a very good fit of the kinetic equation to the data. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters and the refractory coefficients are shown to be independent of influent organic substrate concentration. This study confirms previous reports that the effluent quality of biological treatment systems for organic wastes depends on influent organic waste concentration. The effect of temperature on the kinetic parameters and the refractory coefficient for anaerobic treatment of sewage sludge are studied. It shows that the kinetic parameters vary with temperature, while the refractory coefficient remains fairly constant. Equations to predict biodegradable treatment efficiency and volumetric substrate utilization rate are also briefly discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Enzyme Kinetics
Scientists typically study enzyme kinetics with a fixed amount of enzyme in the controlled environment of a test tube. When more reactant, or substrate, is...
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Molecular Theory: Molecular Velocities, Temperature, and Kinetic Energy
Steps in the Modeling Process
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
What is Conservation Biology?

