Patent ID: 6737263
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: C02F,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method for controlling the biocatalytic efficiency of a wastewater treatment process comprising:a) providing an activated sludge environment comprising: (i) a carbon influx; (ii) cultures of autotrophic, heterotrophic and facultative microorganisms; (iii) a feed nutrient; and (iv) an end electron acceptor b) sampling wastewater from anaerobic, anoxic and/or aerobic stages of the treatment process; c) measuring the concentration of an internal storage molecule selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates and glycogen, which is present in the sample, to determine the status of a selected sample characteristic; and d) adjusting the feed nutrient in the activated sludge environment depending on the status of the selected sample wherein the biocatalytic efficiency of a wastewater treatment process is controlled.