Abstract
Matching experimental and theoretical approaches have often been fruitful in the investigation of complex biological processes. Here we develop a novel non-conventional model for the denitrification of waste water. Earlier models of the denitrification process were compiled by the International Association on Water Quality group. The Activated Sludge Models 1–3, which are the most frequently used all over the world, are presently not adapted towards the integration of both nitrous and nitric oxide emissions during the denitrification process. In the present work, a Generalized Mass Action model, based on Biochemical Systems Theory, was designed to simulate the nitrate reduction observed in specific experimental conditions. The model was implemented and analysed with the software package PLAS. Data from a representative experiment were chosen (T=10°C, pH=7, C/N=3, with acetate as carbon source) to simulate greenhouse NO and N2O gas emissions, in order to test hypotheses about the corresponding bacterial metabolic pathways. The results show that the reduction of nitrate and nitrite is kinetically limiting and that nitrate reduction is limited by diffusion and support that distinct microbial subpopulations are involved in the denitrification pathway, which has consequences for NO emissions.
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge La Région Bretagne for the financial support to the PhD work leading to this study.
Appendix
PLAS model to simulate the denitrification pathways
X1′=- k1 X1^g11 X6^g66 X2^g22 //NO3
X2′=k1 X1^g11 X6^g66 X2^g22 - k2 E X2 X6^g66 - k24 X2 X6^g66 //NO2
X3′=k2 E X2 X6^g66 - k3 X3 X6^g66 X4^g44 - k30 X3 //NO
X4′=k3 X3 X6^g66 X4^g44 - k4 X4 X6^g66 X2^g25 - k40 X4 + k24 X2 X6^g66 //N2O
X5′=k4 X4 X6^g66 X2^g25 //N2
X6′=- k11 X1^g11 X6^g66 X2^g22 - k22 E X2 X6^g66 >>
>> - k244 X2 X6^g66 - k33 X3 X6^g66 X4^g44 >>
>> - k44 X4 X6^g66 X2^g25 - k6 X6^h66
X30′=k30 X3
X40′=k40 X4
X1=3212
X2=0.01
X3=0.01
X4=0.01
X5=0.01
X6=1950
X30=0.01
X40=0.01
E=0
@ 6.4 E=1
k1=0.00075
k2=0.003
k24=0.0036
k3 =.105
k4=0.525
k30=1000
k40=0.42
k11=k1* 0.251
k22=k2 * 0.125
k33=k3 * 0.125
k44=k4 * 0.125
k244=k24 * 0.125 * 2
k6 =.05
g11=0.875
g22=–0.1
g44=–0.675
g25=–1.444
g66=.95
h66=1
t0=0
tf=24
hr=0.1
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