Dynamic calibration of a new secondary settler model using Cand. Microthrix as a predictor of settling velocity

Yuge Qiu; Thomas Hug; Dorottya S. Wágner; Barth F. Smets; Borja Valverde-Pérez; Benedek G. Plósz

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664

Dynamic calibration of a new secondary settler model using Cand. Microthrix as a predictor of settling velocity

Yuge Qiu, Thomas Hug, Dorottya S. Wágner, Barth F. Smets, Borja Valverde-Pérez, Benedek G. Plósz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of hydraulic shocks on urban water systems, affecting water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). In these facilities, the settleability of activated sludge is a critical hydraulic bottleneck. However, to date, the dynamic prediction of hindered settling velocity (v₀/r_H) has remained unresolved. To address this significant knowledge gap, this study presents an assessment of microbial community predictors of hindered settling velocity. Through a regression analysis of independent laboratory and full-scale experimental data, we identified a close association between the relative abundance of Candidatus Microthrix filamentous bacteria and hindered settling velocity parameter values. While no direct association was observed between filamentous abundance and compression settling parameters, we propose linking the dynamic calibration of the compressive solid stress function to v₀/r_H. Notably, our results demonstrate, for the first time, the efficacy of dynamic calibration of SST models using the relative abundance of filamentous microbial predictors in a simulation model of the Kloten-Opfikon full-scale WRRF. Furthermore, besides Cand. Microthrix, Thiothrix is found to be a putative predictor for biomolecular SST calibration. These findings shed light on the potential of microbial communities to predict hindered settling velocity in WRRFs and offer valuable insights for improving wastewater treatment processes in the face of climate change challenges.

Original language	English
Article number	120664
Journal	Water Research
Volume	246
Early online date	29 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath.

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath.

Keywords

Activated sludge settling velocity
Cand. Microthrix parvicella
Filamentous bulking
One-dimensional modelling
Process modelling
Secondary settling tank
Water resource recovery facility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Ecological Modelling
Water Science and Technology
Waste Management and Disposal
Pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664

Cite this

@article{21dd7061ee4947fc813b60d191d1ac51,

title = "Dynamic calibration of a new secondary settler model using Cand. Microthrix as a predictor of settling velocity",

abstract = "Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of hydraulic shocks on urban water systems, affecting water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). In these facilities, the settleability of activated sludge is a critical hydraulic bottleneck. However, to date, the dynamic prediction of hindered settling velocity (v0/rH) has remained unresolved. To address this significant knowledge gap, this study presents an assessment of microbial community predictors of hindered settling velocity. Through a regression analysis of independent laboratory and full-scale experimental data, we identified a close association between the relative abundance of Candidatus Microthrix filamentous bacteria and hindered settling velocity parameter values. While no direct association was observed between filamentous abundance and compression settling parameters, we propose linking the dynamic calibration of the compressive solid stress function to v0/rH. Notably, our results demonstrate, for the first time, the efficacy of dynamic calibration of SST models using the relative abundance of filamentous microbial predictors in a simulation model of the Kloten-Opfikon full-scale WRRF. Furthermore, besides Cand. Microthrix, Thiothrix is found to be a putative predictor for biomolecular SST calibration. These findings shed light on the potential of microbial communities to predict hindered settling velocity in WRRFs and offer valuable insights for improving wastewater treatment processes in the face of climate change challenges.",

keywords = "Activated sludge settling velocity, Cand. Microthrix parvicella, Filamentous bulking, One-dimensional modelling, Process modelling, Secondary settling tank, Water resource recovery facility",

author = "Yuge Qiu and Thomas Hug and W{\'a}gner, {Dorottya S.} and Smets, {Barth F.} and Borja Valverde-P{\'e}rez and Pl{\'o}sz, {Benedek G.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath. Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath. ",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664",

language = "English",

volume = "246",

journal = "Water Research",

issn = "0043-1354",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dynamic calibration of a new secondary settler model using Cand. Microthrix as a predictor of settling velocity

AU - Qiu, Yuge

AU - Hug, Thomas

AU - Wágner, Dorottya S.

AU - Smets, Barth F.

AU - Valverde-Pérez, Borja

AU - Plósz, Benedek G.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath. Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. Eberhard Morgenroth, Eawag, Switzerland, for his support in facilitating the research collaboration between Bath and Hunziker-Betatech AG. We are grateful to staff members of WRRF Kloten-Opfikon, and, particularly, its managers, Michael Kasper and Christoph Liebi, for providing us technical support and data. Co-authors kindly acknowledge the support received to finance the data collection in Denmark by the Integrated Water Technology (InWaTech) project between the Technical University of Denmark and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (DTU-KAIST). We acknowledge the generous support of Prof. Tim Mays, Head of Department, and the internal financial support received from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath.

PY - 2023/11/1

Y1 - 2023/11/1

N2 - Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of hydraulic shocks on urban water systems, affecting water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). In these facilities, the settleability of activated sludge is a critical hydraulic bottleneck. However, to date, the dynamic prediction of hindered settling velocity (v0/rH) has remained unresolved. To address this significant knowledge gap, this study presents an assessment of microbial community predictors of hindered settling velocity. Through a regression analysis of independent laboratory and full-scale experimental data, we identified a close association between the relative abundance of Candidatus Microthrix filamentous bacteria and hindered settling velocity parameter values. While no direct association was observed between filamentous abundance and compression settling parameters, we propose linking the dynamic calibration of the compressive solid stress function to v0/rH. Notably, our results demonstrate, for the first time, the efficacy of dynamic calibration of SST models using the relative abundance of filamentous microbial predictors in a simulation model of the Kloten-Opfikon full-scale WRRF. Furthermore, besides Cand. Microthrix, Thiothrix is found to be a putative predictor for biomolecular SST calibration. These findings shed light on the potential of microbial communities to predict hindered settling velocity in WRRFs and offer valuable insights for improving wastewater treatment processes in the face of climate change challenges.

AB - Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of hydraulic shocks on urban water systems, affecting water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). In these facilities, the settleability of activated sludge is a critical hydraulic bottleneck. However, to date, the dynamic prediction of hindered settling velocity (v0/rH) has remained unresolved. To address this significant knowledge gap, this study presents an assessment of microbial community predictors of hindered settling velocity. Through a regression analysis of independent laboratory and full-scale experimental data, we identified a close association between the relative abundance of Candidatus Microthrix filamentous bacteria and hindered settling velocity parameter values. While no direct association was observed between filamentous abundance and compression settling parameters, we propose linking the dynamic calibration of the compressive solid stress function to v0/rH. Notably, our results demonstrate, for the first time, the efficacy of dynamic calibration of SST models using the relative abundance of filamentous microbial predictors in a simulation model of the Kloten-Opfikon full-scale WRRF. Furthermore, besides Cand. Microthrix, Thiothrix is found to be a putative predictor for biomolecular SST calibration. These findings shed light on the potential of microbial communities to predict hindered settling velocity in WRRFs and offer valuable insights for improving wastewater treatment processes in the face of climate change challenges.

KW - Activated sludge settling velocity

KW - Cand. Microthrix parvicella

KW - Filamentous bulking

KW - One-dimensional modelling

KW - Process modelling

KW - Secondary settling tank

KW - Water resource recovery facility

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173268238&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664

DO - 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120664

M3 - Article

C2 - 37816276

AN - SCOPUS:85173268238

SN - 0043-1354

VL - 246

JO - Water Research

JF - Water Research

M1 - 120664

ER -

Dynamic calibration of a new secondary settler model using Cand. Microthrix as a predictor of settling velocity

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Cite this