DYNAMIC MODE OPERATION ON BM-T RESPIROMETER

1. Operation

The dynamic operation mode in the BM-T represents a state of the art method.

The novelty leans on the exclusive reactor vessel which for practical purpose, can be
considered a single batch completely mixed reactor provided by a plate that divides the
reactor in two parts. The up side is where the air diffuser is installed and the down side is
where the oxygen sensor is measuring.

The down part was conceived on the approach to avoid bubbles from the air diffuser and
avoid the reaction from the interference coming from the atmospheric air (mainly in the
static OUR mode)

In this way, in a closed circuit, it is created a continuous flow between down and up
sides.

oxymeter

reactor

condit.

aerated zone
no-aerated zone

1.1. Dynamic assay operation steps

Dynamic operation is running under R-assay mode and is taking place by two consecutive
steps:

1. Determination of the base line: Oxygen corresponding to the endogenous

respiration: Cb

2. Continuous measurement of resultant oxygen due to the substrate oxidation: Cs

1.2. Determination of the base line (Cb): Oxygen corresponding to

the endogenous respiration

On this first step the program will fix an oxygen value as the base line (zero) on which
the oxygen demand caused by the degradation of the substrate (on second step) will be
based.

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1.3. Continuous measurement of the resultant oxygen due to the
substrate oxidation (Cs)
Once the base-line is fixed and stored, we go ahead on the second step by adding the
programmed volume (Vm) of sample and starting a graphical diagram (respirogram) of
continuous exogenous respiration rates.

The trajectory of the respirogram will follow the actual state of substrate degradation
along the time until its depletion.

The degradation evolution is determined by the respirogram area which will include the
oxygen demand from organic matter and oxygen demand because of nitrification.

Applications
Dynamic mode, besides the respiration rate values on timely basis, is doted by an
important tool: Respirogram. Respirograms permit a wide fan of possibilities based on
visual and absolute assessments.

Can be used to assess the activity of the activated sludge when we add a certain amount
of substrate in order to check if it is getting normal value or not. From there we can
analyze how the behaviour of the sludge activity is along the time.

We can take reference measuring points: Maximum respiration rate, respiration rate at
determined time.

As Toxicity analyzer is essential for the different ways in which it can detect and measure
many type of inhibitions for the whole process and specifically for Nitrification.

Also, from dynamic mode we can characterize the wastewater biodegradability by

obtaining the different total and partial COD biodegradable fractions.

It is an important mode to determine the biodegradable COD removal and nitrification

rates.

Dynamic mode is an open mode and for that reason you can analyze anything you add to
the activated sludge and see what happen.

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2. Respirometry operation principle

The BM-T dynamic mode Respirometry principle is better understood when we consider
that it is taking place in a completed mixed single reaction chamber, continuously
aerated doted provided with a sensibility device and recirculation pump.

Under that conception we have to talk about resultant oxygen in the global system and
oxygen transfer coefficient.

As a matter of fact the first step of BM-T development started by one model based on
one reaction chamber without any division, in which the aeration diffuser was placed in
the upper half of the vessel and measuring point in oxygen sensor in the down half. On
this mode, we have got a down zone from where we could increase sensibility.

In fact there are many system where the diffuser is up and sensor down in order to avoid
bubbles hitting the sensor and considering the resultant DO.

This system was intended to run without stopping aeration: just calibrated with sodium
sulphite and computing the resultant oxygen evolution.

This system works, but it has less sensibility that the actual BM-T due to some flow of air
entering from the atmosphere because of the centrifugal effect from the stirrer. This was
just the reason we have added the division in our present BM-T.

2.1. KLa coefficient as calibration factor for measuring system

The BM-T is making use of a simple method to determine KLa by making use of sodium
sulphite oxidation in aerated distilled deionised water (see CO calibration in the operation
manual)

This method is based on the fact that by stechiometry we know that 1 g sulphite will
need 126 mg oxygen (O2.sp) for its complete oxidation when passing into sulphate.

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Once the respirogram is finished, the way in which K is calculated is by internally dividing
the value of the consumed oxygen (CO) obtained in the calibration test by 126.

KLa is stored in memory (as k factor) and applied on the respiration rates of the dynamic
mode (only on this mode)

Under this method KLa globalize the whole measuring system for each pumping flow and
automatically covers the resultant effect of the reactor vessel.

From SURCIS experiments, it was confirmed the assumption that we can apply KLa for
the whole respiration rates of any respirogram of the dynamic R mode coming from
adding a small volume of substrate to activated sludge under endogenous phase.

Once calibration is made for each flow, in the normal R tests the value of CO will be
accurately calculated. Then, the software by applying the corresponding Y coefficient
value will also simultaneously calculate the bCOD

bCOD = 1 – CO / (1-Y)

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2.1.1. One KLa per each recirculation pumping flow

Respirometry system is doted by 3 different recirculation flows (s1, s2, s3). For each
flow, there is a different hydraulic retention time and mixing effect that is affecting up
and down chambers in different way. For that reason the KLa calibration (CO calibration)
should be done for each flow.

2.2. Endogenous respiration (Cb)

Rb = KLa (Cst – Cb) - dCb/dt

Q: Flow
Vd: Vd: Liquid volume in down-chamber
K: Calibratiion factor (from factory)
Rb: Endogenous respiration
Cb: Resultant DO under endogenous respiration (base-line)

In endogenous phase, where the equilibrium between oxygen input and respiration has
been attained, dCb/dt = 0.

Rb = KLa (Cst – Cb)

The BM-T is not measuring Rb and only measuring Cb as explained in point 2.3.

2.3. Total Respiration (Rt)

Rt = KLa (Cst - Cs) – dCs/dt

Rt: Total respiration rate

Cst: DO saturation
Cs: Actual DO measured after substrate addition

Rt = Rb + Rs

Rs: Substrate respiration rate

The BM-T is not measuring Rt, but considering it in its calculations.

2.4. Substrate respiration rate (Rs)

Rs = Rt – Rb

Rs = KLa [(Cst - Cs) – (Cst – Cb)] - dCs/dt

Rs = KLa (Cb - Cs) – dCs/dt

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Rs is corrected by a dilution factor (fd) that the software calculates internally.
Dilution factor is normally depending from the sample volume (Vm) that we fill in the test
configuration.

Rs = fd * KLa (Cb - Cs) – dCs/dt

Under R dynamic mode and once calibrated, the BM-T automatically figures out Rs. For
that calculation it is only necessary the Cb and Cs dissolved oxygen measurements.

En each respirogram CO is calculated, and from CO (by applying Y) bCOD is calculated

(see operation and application manuals)

bCOD = 1 – CO / (1-Y)

Emilio Serrano
SURCIS, S.L.