A simple technique for estimating the contribution of abiotic mechanisms to the removal of synthetic organic chemicals by completely mixed activated sludge

Estimation of the contribution of abiotic removal mechanisms, such as volatilization and sorption, to the overall removal of a synthetic organic chemical (SOC) by the activated-sludge process is often necessary. Recognition that the only effect of the abiotic mechanisms is to reduce the concentration of biomass involved in the biodegradation of the SOC provides the means for estimating; that contribution. Knowledge of the fraction of the influent SOC concentration remaining in the effluent, the hydraulic and solids retention limes, the mixed liquor suspended solids concentration, the volatilization rate coefficient, and the sorption coefficient allows rapid computation of the fractional removal resulting from the abiotic mechanisms.