Assessment of Kinetic Coefficients for Chrome Tannery Wastewater Treatment by Activated Sludge System

Activated sludge process is feasible and extensively method used for biological treatment of sewage and industrial wastewaters. The system is usually designed based on the simplified hydraulic related parameters. But design of biological treatment system based on hydraulic considerations is not reasonable to ensure efficient treatment due to the extensive variation in the composition of wastewater and also for complex nature of biochemical reactions occurring in the treatment processes. Hence kinetic approach can be an option for appropriate design of biological treatment systems rather than hydraulic parameters considerations. The present study is aimed to develop kinetic coefficients for the treatment of chrome-tannery wastewater using activated sludge process. A laboratory-scale treatment unit subsuming an aeration tank and a clarifier were used for this system. The treatment unit was operated continuously for 80 days by varying the hydraulic retention time from 3 to 12 days. BOD for both influent and effluent as well as mixed liquor volatile suspended solid (MLVSS) of aeration tank were determined at different retention time to yield data for kinetic coefficients. The substrate utilization rate coefficient (k) was 0.624 day−1 while the half velocity constant (KS) was 38.42 mg/L, yield coefficient (Y) was found to be 0.674 mgMLVSS/mgBOD and the endogenous decay coefficient (Kd) was found as 0.068 day-1. These coefficients can be utilized for the rational design of activated sludge system for the treatment of chrome tannery wastewater.