Mathematical modelling of sludge ozonation process for WWTP excess sludge reduction

Thispaperpresentsanewmathematicalmodelforactivatedsludgeozonationprocess.Theozonationreactor hasbeenmodelledastwocompletelymixedvolumestoseparatelypredictthebehaviouroftheliquidandgaseous phasesaswellastheinterrelationbetweenthem.Theproposedmodelisabletosimulatethemainbiochemical transformationsoftheprocess,guaranteeingarigorouscontinuityformasstransferandcharge.Anextended experimentalwork,conductedtowardsfoursetsofexperiments,hasenabledthemodelcapacitytoqualitativelypredict processperformance.Theflexiblemodellingstructurefacilitatesboththemodificationofthesetoftransformations andtheeasyconnectionwithotherunitprocessmodelssoastosimulatemorecomplexplantconfigurations.The modelling methodology selected that permits different unit models integration and an extended experimental evaluationcarriedoutforcalibration,allowedtheconstructionofausefultooltoconductextensiveanalysesofa widerangeofalternativesforminimizationofsludgeproduction.