Modelling of ionic interactions with wastewater treatment biomass.

Titration data for samples of mixed salts with glycine, baker's yeast cell mass and anaerobic digester sludge were obtained and compared to a speciation model of weak acid-base interaction in aqueous solutions. The effect of glycine on the buffer intensity of the solution could be precisely described by the speciation model but did not represent the proton exchange characteristics of either baker's yeast or anaerobic sludge well. A model component, UKZiNe, consisting of carboxylic acids, phosphate and amine groups described the baker's yeast well, and a combination of UKZiNe and carbonate-yielding inorganic solids described anaerobic digester sludge. The effect of biomass on buffer intensity in the pH range 6.5 to 8 was small for the concentration ranges tested.