Dynamical model development and parameter identification for an anaerobic wastewater treatment process

Abstract

This paper deals with the development and the parameter identification of an anaerobic digestion process model. A two‐step (acidogenesis–methanization) mass‐balance model has been considered. The model incorporates electrochemical equilibria in order to include the alkalinity, which has to play a central role in the related monitoring and control strategy of a treatment plant. The identification is based on a set of dynamical experiments designed to cover a wide spectrum of operating conditions that are likely to take place in the practical operation of the plant. A step by step identification procedure to estimate the model parameters is presented. The results of 70 days of experiments in a 1‐m³ fermenter are then used to validate the model. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 424–438, 2001.