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MANUAL on the CAUSES and CONTROL of ACTIVATED SLUDGE BULKING, FOAMING, and OTHER SOLIDS SEPARATION PROBLEMS

3rd Edition David Jenkins Michael G.Richard Glen T.Daigger

LEWIS PUBLISHERS A CRC Press Company Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C.

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.

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To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledges collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jenkins, David, 1935 Manual on the causes and control of activated sludge bulking, foaming, and other solids separation problems/by David Jenkins, Michael G.Richard, and Glen T.Daigger.3rd ed. p. cm. Rev. ed. of: Manual on the causes and control of activated sludge bulking and foaming. 2nd ed. c1993. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-56670-647-5 (alk. paper) 1. SewagePurificationActivated sludge process. 2. Sludge bulking. 3. Flocculation. I. Richard, Michael G. II. Daigger, Glen T. III. Jenkins, David, 1935 Manual on the causes and control of activated sludge bulking and foaming. IV. Title. TD756J46 2003 628.354dc21 2003051956 This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying.

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Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W.Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com 2004 by CRC Press LLC Co-published by IWA Publishing, Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, London, SW1H 0QS, UK Tel. +44 (0) 20 7654 5500, Fax +44 (0) 20 7654 5555 publications@iwap.co.uk www.iwapublishing,com ISBN 0-203-50315-5 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 1-84339-046-9 (Print Edition) No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 1-56670-647-5 (Print Edition) Library of Congress Card Number 2003051956 ISBN 0-203-50315-5 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-61761-4 (OEB Format) ISBN 1-56670-647-5 (Print Edition)

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Dedication To Samantha and Maggie Jenkins, Jack Muren, Joan Richard, and Patty Daigger

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Preface But if I could start all over, guess Id still do what I do. Wishing all these old things were new. Merle Haggard, 1937 Activated sludge is the most widely used secondary wastewater treatment process in the world. It consists of two treatment unitsthe aeration basin and the solids separation deviceusually a gravity sedimentation basin called the secondary clarifier. Until about 20 years ago, most investigations of activated sludge were concerned with factors affecting pollutant removal efficiency by processes that occur in the aeration basin even though many investigators and practitioners acknowledged that the great majority of effluent quality problems were related to the inability of the secondary clarifier to efficiently remove the activated sludge biomass from the treated wastewater. To understand the behavior of activated sludge in solids separation processes, it is necessary to characterize the complex community that makes up the activated sludge biomass rather than regard it simply as suspended solids or volatile suspended solids. It is also important to understand that wastewater characteristics and aeration basin

environmental conditions and configuration influence the way in which the activated sludge suspended solids behave in a secondary clarifier. The design and operation of an activated sludge system to produce high quality effluent requires the integration of aeration basin and secondary clarifier designs. This manual deals with all aspects of activated sludge solids separation problems. Chapter 1 describes the nature of activated sludge and its solids

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separation problems; it traces their origins to fundamental physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of the activated sludge. The current understanding of activated sludge bioflocculation processes and the effects of filamentous organisms on floc structure are discussed. Chapter 2 presents microscopic, physical, and chemical methods for activated sludge characterization and for the diagnosis of solids separation problems and their causes. This section is liberally illustrated with photomicrographs. Detailed descriptions and an identification key for filamentous organisms are presented. The use of molecular biological methods is discussed briefly and summary information on the current status of filamentous organism identification is presented. Methods for biopolymer analysis are given. Techniques for differentiating between biological-related and process-related separation activated sludge solids separation problems are discussed. Chapter 3 presents an extended discussion of how a microscopic evaluation of activated sludge can be used to help evaluate solids separation problems. The uses of both floc and filamentous organism observations are described. Chapter 4 is a discussion on how to remedy and prevent activated sludge solids separation problems. The theory of activated sludge behavior in secondary clarifiers is discussed and is used to develop methods of clarifier and aeration basin management for combatting bulking sludge. Secondary clarifier operating diagrams for several settling test methods are given. The use of polymers, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone for bulking sludge control is presented, together with case histories from fullscale treatment plants. The resolution of specific bulking problems due to macro- and micro-nutrient deficiency, sulfide, low dissolved

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oxygen concentration, and readily metabolizeable substrates is given in detail; the effect of aeration basin configuration on activated sludge settling and the design and use of selectors for bulking control is covered in depth; illustrative examples from full-scale treatment plants are presented. Methods for dealing with dispersed growth and viscous bulking are discussed. The use of field and laboratory testing methods for differentiating between biological and process problems is illustrated with case histories from full-scale treatment plants. Chapter 5 discusses the causes and control of activated sludge foaming. The roles of surfactants, microorganisms such as nocardioforms, and Microthrix parvicella are outlined; the effects of physical details of the aeration basin, secondary clarifier, and in-plant recycles on foam retention and foam recycling are discussed. The control of nocardioform organisms by using low MCRT and various types of selector systems is discussed and illustrated with case histories. Nocardioform foaming control by cationic polymer addition, surface chlorine mist spray application, selective surface sludge wasting, and automatic MCRT control is presented. The impact of nocardioform organism foaming on anaerobic digestion is discussed. The chapter closes with a discussion of the causes and control methods for bulking and foaming caused by Microthrix parvicella. The manual contains an extensive bibliography on all aspects of activated sludge solids separation problems. This manual is designed to be useful to the wide variety of professionals who design, manage, monitor, and operate the activated sludge process. Material in this text is useful for laboratory personnel, design engineers, and treatment plant operators. The manual serves as a useful text on

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activated sludge microbiology and treatment plant design and operation. Its previous editions have been used widely in laboratory courses on activated sludge characterization and solids separation problems. Acknowledgments This manual was made possible by the work and support of many individuals and organizations. Our sincere thanks and gratitude are due to them. The first edition of the manual was made possible by grants from the Water Research Commission of the Republic of South Africa and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Much of the research that laid the foundation for this manual was conducted over the last three and a half decades by a dedicated and imaginative group of graduate students and post-doctoral researchers at the University of California at Berkeley. Although their names appear in the bibliography, they, of all people, deserve individual mention. They are Mesut Sezgin, Denny Parker, Jonathan Palm, Tony Lau, Peter Strom, Sang-Eun Lee, Ben Koopman, Oliver Hao, Michael Richard,

J.B.Neethling, Greg Shimizu, Kay Johnson, Andr van Niekerk, Bernardo Vega-Rodriguez, Haro Bode, Y-J.Shao, Paul Pitt, Daniel Cha, Daniel Mamais, Linda Blackall, Valter Tandoi, Mark Hernandez, Cho-Fei Ho, Jean Weber, Krishna Pagilla, Andy Schuler, Willie Harper, Abe Fainsod, Trina McMahon, Suzan Yilmaz, B.Narayanan, and Carlos De Len. We owe a special thank you to the wastewater treatment plant personnel who have tried out our ideas in practice. Special recognition is due to the people who took special risks in doing it first. These are Russ Edwards, Albany, Georgia; Bob Beebe, San Jose/Santa Clara, California; Randy Gray, Stroh Brewing Co., Longview, Texas; Bill Keaney, North San Mateo Sanitation District, California; Mike Wheeler, Hamilton, OH;

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Millard H.Robbins, Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority, Centreville, VA; Michael Read and Richard Stillwell, Clackamas Service District, Oregon; Gary Vaughn and Billy Ammons, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Dale Richwine and Carlo Spani, United Sewerage Agency, Oregon; John Reid, Stone Container Corporation, Ontonagon, Michigan; Todd Cockburn and Jonathon Loiacono, San Francisco, California; and Wendell Kido, Sacramento, California. We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues who freely and openly discussed our ideas and often provided us with fresh insights. These include Orrie Albertson, Denny Parker, Tom Wilson, Wes Eckenfelder, David Stensel, Bob Okey, John Novak, Jay Keasling, Merv Goronsczy, Alex Ekster, and Joh Kang. The photomicrographs were taken by Michael Richard. Suzan Yilmaz and Sarah Muren produced the figures. Sarah Muren and Joan Jenkins prepared the manuscript. Joan Jenkins verified the citations. The patience, skill and hard work of all these people are acknowledged. David Jenkins, Berkeley, CA Michael Richard, Fort Collins, CO Glen Daigger, Denver, CO

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Authors

David Jenkins is a professor in the graduate school and professor emeritus of environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. He came to the United States from Great Britain after earning a B.Sc. in applied biochemistry from Birmingham University and a Ph.D. in public health engineering from the University of Durham, Kings College. Professor Jenkins research and professional practice is in the general areas of biological wastewater treatment and water and wastewater chemistry. He is the author of over 250 publications. His research work and professional contributions have been recognized by awards from the Water Environment Federation (Eddy, Gasgoine, Camp, and Fair Medals), the American Society of Civil Engineers (Freeze Medal), the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (Outstanding Publication Award), and the International Water Association (Sam Jenkins Medal and the Ardern and Lockett Award). He is an honorary life member of the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. The results of his research on activated sludge solids separation problems have been applied worldwide to improve the design and operation of biological wastewater treatment plants.

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Michael G.Richard is a senior environmental scientist with Sear Brown in Fort Collins, Colorado. His education includes an A.B. in field biology and ecology and an M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental health sciences from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to his current position, he was a research specialist in wastewater treatment microbiology at Berkeley and an assistant professor of environmental health at Colorado State University. He is the author of about 100 papers and technical reports and the author or coauthor of five books on wastewater treatment microbiology. He has given more than 150 presentations at meetings nationwide. He is the recipient of the Eddy Medal from the Water Environment Federation, the Russell Blosser Award from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and the Douglas Jones Award from the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada. He was named the Environmental Educator of the Year in 1999 by the National Environmental Training Association. Dr. Richard has been involved in the diagnosis and correction of wastewater treatment microbiology problems for more than 300 cities and 200 industries. He has offered wastewater microbiology training courses at over 125 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

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Glen T.Daigger is a registered professional engineer and is currently senior vice president with CH2M HILL, where he serves as chief technology officer for the firms water businesses. He is also a technical fellow in wastewater treatment technology and as such he serves as senior consultant and process engineer on a wide variety of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment and reclamation projects. Dr. Daigger is the author or coauthor of over 100 technical publications, several manuals that are widely used in the wastewater profession, and four books. He was educated at Purdue University where he earned a B.S.C.D., M.S.C.E., and Ph.D. in environmental engineering. He is a member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Water Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, International Water Association, and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and he is a diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He served as the chair of the WEF task force that prepared the current edition of Manual of Practice 8, Design of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, and chair of the board of editorial review of Water Environment Research. He currently is chair of the technical practice committee and research symposium of the WEFTEC Program Committee. He has received the Gascoigne and Morgan medals from WEF, and is the only back-to-back winner of the Harrison Prescott Eddy award. He has served as the Kappe lecturer for the AAEE, and he is currently a member of the Water Environment Research Foundation Research Council.