title: Dynamic experiments with high bisphenol-A concentrations modelled with an ASM model extended to include a separate XOC degrading microorganism.
abstract: The perspective of this work is to develop a model, which can be used to better understand and optimize wastewater treatment plants that are able to remove xenobiotic organic compounds (XOCs) in combination with removal of traditional pollutants. Results from dynamic experiments conducted with the endocrine disrupting XOC bisphenol-A (BPA) in an activated sludge process with real wastewater were used to hypothesize an ASM-based process model including aerobic growth of a specific BPA-degrading microorganism and sorption of BPA to sludge. A parameter estimation method was developed, which simultaneously utilizes steady-state background concentrations and dynamic step response data, as well as conceptual simplifications of the plant configuration. Validation results show that biodegradation of BPA is sensitive to operational conditions before and during the experiment and that the proposed model structure is capable of capturing important characteristics of the observed BPA removal, thus increasing the potential for generalizing knowledge obtained from plant specific experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. erik.lindblom@dhi.se
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindblom
authors.forename: Kåre
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Press-Kristensen
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vanrolleghem
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henze
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002138:Calibration; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015262:Xenobiotics; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds