Newcastle University: Wastewater Engineering Design Report, CEG8104

This report details the design of a municipal activated sludge wastewater treatment plant for Oldcastle City. The assignment requires the derivation of kinetic parameters, including substrate utilization and growth rates, from laboratory experiments using wastewater samples with varying COD and ammonium concentrations. The report involves plotting data, applying Monod growth kinetic models to determine maximum specific growth rate (µmax) and Ks values from flow cytometry and COD analysis, and calculating the true yield. It necessitates comparison of the yield values with those typically used for heterotrophic bacteria and an assessment of the sludge's nitrification capabilities. Furthermore, the report demands a critical discussion of uncertainties in laboratory analyses, data analysis conflicts, and variations in mixed liquor suspended solids. The student is required to compare and interpret correlations between flow cytometry and qPCR data, and subsequently design an activated sludge plant for Oldcastle, determining SRT, HRT, aeration basin size, and effluent concentration. The report includes sections on introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, references, and appendices, with example calculations and adherence to specific word limits and marking criteria related to presentation, content, and calculations.