Patent ID: 8545700

Claim:
A method of optimizing the specific growth rate of nitrifying bacteria for treating wastewater in a system having an aeration basin, comprising: obtaining wastewater containing ammonium; establishing an optimal range for the soluble CO 2 concentration for the wastewater in the aeration basin; where the optimal range for soluble CO 2 level for the aeration basin is established by the formula: μ = μ max ⁢ [ CO 2 ] ( [ CO 2 ] + K CO ⁢ ⁢ 2 + [ CO 2 ] 2 K I ) wherein μ is specific growth rate of the nitrifying bacteria, CO 2 is a function of the pCO 2 of the air provided to the aeration basin, K CO2 is Henry's constant for CO 2 and K I is the inhibition constant in mg/L; measuring the concentration of soluble CO 2 for the wastewater in the aeration basin; comparing the measured concentration of soluble CO 2 in the waste water in the aeration basin against the established optimal soluble CO 2 concentration; and adjusting the soluble CO 2 level in the aeration basin to match the established optimal soluble CO 2 concentration.