Modelling temperature effects on ammonia-oxidising bacterial biostability in chloraminated systems

► Exponential curve does not fit the variation of specific growth rate with temperature. ► A model proposed by Ratkowsky et al. (1982) is adopted for sub-optimal temperature. ► A quadratic equation describes the specific growth rate beyond sub-optimal temperature. ► A biostable residual concentration greatly varies with temperature. ► The relationship was validated against full and laboratory scale results between 13-30 °C.