Rapid automated detection of nitrification kinetics using respirometry

There is no doubt that respirometry is a useful measurement principle in the field of wastewater treatment. Although a large variety of methods and case studies have been published, respirometry has become neither a standard tool for control nor for assessment and optimisation of treatment plants. The drawback of the conventional method for determining nitrification kinetics is the long experimental time. This disadvantage can be avoided by “turning over” the experiment. Starting with low ammonia concentrations the steep slope of the Monod curve is measured first. The low concentration branch of the Monod curve is also the part where e.g. inhibition can be detected. Therefore the proposed procedure allows us to speed up the measurement of nitrification kinetics and to measure nitrification inhibition on-line.