Observation and mathematical description of the acceleration phenomenon in batch respirograms associated with ammonium oxidation

Two-step nitrification models are generally calibrated using short-term respirometric batch experiments. Important discrepancies appear between model predictions and experimental observations just after the pulse addition since a fast transient in the OUR profile is experimentally observed. Acceleration of the OUR appears ongoing between the substrate addition and attainment of the maximum OUR value.

Among the several phenomena that could contribute to this observation, the most probable cause is the limitation of reducing equivalents required for maximal ammonia monooxygenase activity at the time of substrate addition. Ignoring acceleration would result in large parameter estimation errors from respirometric batch experiments.

This work proposes a simple methodology to successfully describe (not to explain) the acceleration phenomenon estimating only two parameters. This methodology consists of introducing a Gaussian-like expression in the model.