Modeling bacterial competition in activated sludge using non-linear dynamics and monod kinetics

P. E. Saikaly*, D. B. Oerther

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A mechanistic model for activated sludge sewage treatment was developed to predict exploitative competition of six aerobic heterotrophic bacterial species competing for three complementary growth limiting substrates using the noninteractive Monod equation. The central hypothesis of the model is that in a multispecies/substrate system the number of coexisting bacterial species, N, exceeds the number of limiting resources, K, available for them. The model was used to investigate the effect of bioreactor conditions on the diversity of bacterial species. Preliminary results of model simulations showed that for a certain range of solids retention times (2.28-5.66 days) the competition of six bacterial species for three growth limiting substrates produces oscillations within the structure of the bacterial community allowing for the sustained growth of more than three species on the three substrates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Modelling and Simulation
EditorsM.H. Hamza, M.H. Hamza
Pages203-208
Number of pages6
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Modelling and Simulation - Palm Springs, CA, United States
Duration: Feb 24 2003Feb 26 2003

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Modelling and Simulation

Other

OtherProceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Modelling and Simulation
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPalm Springs, CA
Period02/24/0302/26/03

Keywords

  • Competitive Exclusion Principle
  • Microorganisms
  • Resource-Ratio Theory
  • Sewage Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Computer Science Applications

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