A four compartments model of the PAHs fate during anaerobic sludge digestion
Résumé
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potentially removed from anaerobic digestion. An accurate description of their distribution in the system can be used to better understand which compartment is used for degradation and to improve their removal. In this work, we proposed a model with four compartments to describe the PAHs fate during anaerobic digestion. The model was calibrated and validated thanks to experimental data get from two continuous reactors fed with primary and secondary sludge. The non-linear least square method to optimise the model parameters resulted in a model that is in accordance with the experimental data. The PAH biodegradation rate is well modelled when considering the free dissolved concentration as the bioavailable compartment. However, micropollutant biodegradation is possible into both liquid and solid phase.