Abstract

The aim of this paper was to propose a modeling system of water ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Results reveal that application of the model of Chick-Watson in its original form or modified are not representative of the kinetics of disinfection. For this reason, the application of a new kinetic model of Collins-Selleck in UV inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in secondary wastewater appeared to be the best applied model. The modeling of the reactivation process at range of 7.5-50°C temperature was shown. First-order saturation does not fit the obtained data in photoreactivation; a modification of the model is proposed coinciding with the classical logistic equation. To better explain the process of inactivation, we have assumed that the action of disinfectant on the survival of lonely microorganisms is faster than its action on suspended solids protected or agglomerated to each other. For this reason, the application of a new kinetic model by introducing a third factor reflecting the influence of suspended solids in water on disinfection kinetics appeared to be determinant for modeling UV inactivation of P. aeruginosa in secondary treated wastewater.

Key words: Secondary wastewater, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, modeling, photoreactivation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suspended solids.