Modelling the influence of physical properties of extracellular polymeric substances in aerobic granule morphology
Stefan de Bruin (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)
Yuemei Lin – Mentor
R.M.H Merks – Coach
Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht – Graduation committee member
Robert Mans – Graduation committee member
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Abstract
This thesis examines the influence of physical properties of structural EPS on granule morphology. Two types of structural EPS are found to be important. These types of structural EPS are: surface bound EPS and hydrogel forming EPS matrix. VirtualLeaf is used to model granules which contain only binding surface bound EPS. The TST model is used to find the influence of both structural EPS components. In VirtualLeaf compact granules are formed with slight bulging features, similar to granules found in literature. The TST shows that binding surface binding EPS increase the compactness of granules. Furthermore it is shown that porosity of the EPS matrix also determines compactness and maximum size of granules. The strength and measure of the EPS matrix is shown to influence granule stability.