Mathematical modelling of animal waste treatment

Abstract Mathematical models of micro-organism growth, which have been used to describe processes of batch culture, are discussed and especially one model, that of Monod, is chosen for detailed description. This substrate model is described for continuously operated treatment systems. A comparison is made with experimental work, largely on pig slurry leading to a formula for the prediction of the C.O.D. of the effluent supernatant. The effects of the feed concentration, the rate of flow and the method of solids separation on the treatment process are discussed in the light of the model.