A mathematical model for the biological treatment of industrial wastewaters in a cascade of four reactors

Abstract

Many industrial processes, particularly in the food industry, produce slurries or wastewaters containing high concentrations of biodegradable organic materials. Before these contaminated wastewaters can be discharged the concentration of these pollutants must be reduced. A method which has been extensively employed to remove biodegradable organic matter is biological treatment. In this process the wastewater (or slurry) is passed through a bioreactor containing biomass which grows through consumption of the pollutants.