Análisis y modelado de un proceso BAS (Biofilm Activated Sludge) para el tratamiento biológico de aguas residuales de alta carga orgánica con limitación de nutrientes

Laburpena

The combination of microbial growth of the MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) process in biofilm and in suspension allows improving the efficiency and consequently the operation costs of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In addition, due to the low space requirements of MBBR technology, this type of reactors can be installed in WWTP that require increasing its biological treatment capacity and/or water quality of the effluent in situations with limited space. BAS (Biofilm Activated Sludge) process combines MBBR and Activated sludge process that allows process improvement due to the role of predator microorganisms. This thesis is structured in nine chapters. In Chapter 1, the general concepts of biological treatment based on the metabolic activity of microorganisms and the basics of mathematical modeling of a WWTP are presented. Chapter 2 describes the industrial WWTP studied and the methodology used. In chapter 3, the fractionation methods of the organic material is detailed and applied to the experimental data. In Chapters 4, 5 and 6, the MBBR and BAS processes are simulated at industrial scale, analyzing the influence of organic load on the microbial distribution and the effect of predator microorganisms on operational costs. A comparative analysis of simulation models is carried out in chapter 7 and a novel methodology of optimization of the BAS process is presented in chapter 8 combining economic, technical and environmental evaluation criteria. Finally, Chapter 9 provides the conclusions, suggestions, future work and main contributions of this thesis.