A Mathematical Model for the Anaerobic Digestion Process Applied to a Mixture of Night Soil and Septic Tank Sludge

Abstract

Laboratory scale experiments were conducted to develop a mathematical model for the anaerobic digestion of a mixture of night soil and septic tank sludge. The optimum mixing ratio by volume between night soil and septic tank sludge was found to be 7:3. Due to the high solids content in the influent waste, mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) was not considered to be a proper parameter for biomass concentration, therefore, the active biomass concentration was estimated based on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) concentration in the reactor. The weight ratio between acidogenic bacteria and methanogenic bacteria in the mixed culture of a well-operated anaerobic digester was approximately 3:2. The proposed model indicates that the amount of volatile acid produced and the gas production rate can be expressed as a function of hydraulic residence time (HRT). The kinetic constants of the two phases of the anaerobic digestion process were determined, and a computer was used to simulate results using the proposed model for the various operating parameters, such as BOD5 and volatile acid concentrations in effluent, biomass concentrations and gas production rates. These were consistent with the experimental data.