MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ENVE 417

UNIT OPERATIONS AND PROCESS LABORATORY

ZONE SETTLING ANALYSIS

SUBMITTED BY:

Ege Berkin AKDAĞ

Ceyhun AKDEDE

Kemal Burak ARIBOĞA

Doğukan ARIKAN

Emin BAYRI

Çağrı GÜRBÜZ

Aykut KAŞ

Dilan LAÇİN

SUBMITTED TO:

Tolga PİLEVNELİ
 SUBMISSION DATE:

09.04.2018

PURPOSE

The aim of this experiment is to gain the information which is about the development of basic
design criteria for a secondary sedimentation tank in an activated sludge system by performed
batch settling analysis.

PROCEDURE

To find sludge concentration:

1. In order to find concentration of sludge 25 mL sample is taken and filtered.

2. Then, crucibles are weighed.
3. Filtered sample is taken to the crucibles and burning process is performed at 105ºC.
4. Crucibles are placed in desiccator and after moisture is removed they are weighed and
data is recorded.

Zone Settling:

1. Five different mixed liquors which have different concentrations are prepared.
2. For first one, 1 L of mixed liquor is taken to the graduated cylinder.
3. For second one, 750 mL of mixed liquor and 250 mL of tap water are added to the
graduated cylinder.
4. For third one, 500 mL mixed liquor and 500 mL tap water are added to the graduated
cylinder.
5. For fourth one, 250 mL mixed liquor and 750 mL tap water are added to the graduated
cylinder.
6. Lastly, 100 mL mixed liquor and 900 mL tap water are added to the graduated
cylinder.
7. After all mixtures are prepared, they are all mixed at the same time and then they are
allowed to settle.
8. Every 30 seconds for 6 minutes, location of interface is recorded.
9. After 6 minutes, data is recorded at 8th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 22nd and 26th minutes. And
final data is recorded after 1.5 hour.
DATA ANALYSIS AND CALCULATIONS

In order to find the MLSS concentration of the sample 2 different samples of 25 mL are taken
and weights of these samples are measured after waiting them for 1 day under 105°C.

Empty crucible weight of the 1st sample = 50.4251 g

Empty crucible weight of the 2nd sample = 52.1161 g

Sample + crucible weight of the 1st sample = 50.5871 g

Sample + crucible weight of the 2nd sample = 52.272 g

MLSS concentration of the first sample

( 50.5871 g−50.4251 g )
∗1000 mg
25 mL
∗1000 mL
g
¿ =6480mg /L
L

MLSS concentration of the second sample

( 52.272 g−52.1161 g )
∗1000 mg
25 mL
∗1000 mL
g
¿ =6236 mg/ L
L

To find the concentration of the main sample arithmetic mean of these two samples are taken.

C = = 6358 mg/L

Then, in order to perform settling 4 samples are prepared into cylinders and C 0 values are
calculated.

Concentration of the 1st cylinder, C0 = 6358 mg/L * 1000 mL/1000 mL = 6358 mg/L

Concentration of the 2nd cylinder, C0 = 6358 mg/L * 750 mL/1000 mL = 4768.5 mg/L

Concentration of the 3rd cylinder, C0 = 6358 mg/L * 500 mL/1000 mL = 3179 mg/L

Concentration of the 4th cylinder, C0 = 6358 mg/L * 250 mL/1000 mL = 1589.5 mg/L
Table 1: Recorded interface height values for each cylinder in different time intervals
Interface Height (mm)
Time (min) Cylinder 1 Cylinder 2 Cylinder 3 Cylinder 4
0 500 505 510 505
0.5 485 485 485 490
1 445 435 420 465
1.5 405 385 360 405
2 360 315 290 310
2.5 320 245 220 200
3 275 180 150 100
3.5 240 130 115 50
4 215 120 104 43
4.5 200 110 97 42
5 188 103 92 40
5.5 180 100 88 38
6 170 95 82 37
8 151 83 74 35
10 139 75 68 33
12 129 70 63 32
15 118 64 59 31
18 110 60 56 30
22 104 58 54 30
26 100 56 53 30
30 79 48 46 29
Figure 1: Interface height vs time graph of the first cylinder

Figure 2: Interface height vs time graph of the second cylinder

Figure 3: Interface height vs time graph of the third cylinder

Figure 4: Interface height vs time graph of the fourth cylinder

Then, zone settling velocities (ZSV) of the four different MLSS concentrations are found by
calculating the slope of the hindered settling zone from the graph.

For the 1st cylinder ZSV = 82.86 mm/min = 8.286 cm/min

For the 2nd cylinder ZSV = 122.5 mm/min = 12.25 cm/min

For the 3rd cylinder ZSV = 134 mm/min = 13.4 cm/min

For the 4th cylinder ZSV = 205 mm/min = 20.5 cm/min

Table 2: ZSV values for each different MLSS concentrations

Cylinder # MLSS concentration (mg/L) ZSV (cm/min)

Cylinder 1 6358 mg/L 8.286 cm/min
Cylinder 2 4768.5 mg/L 12.25 cm/min
Cylinder 3 3179 mg/L 13.4 cm/min
Cylinder 4 1589.5 mg/L 20.5 cm/min

Figure 5: ZSV vs MLSS concentration graph

As it is expected zone settling velocities are increasing with the decreasing of MLSS
concentrations.

Calculation of Underflow Concentrations:

Figure 6: Determination of Hu and Tu from the settling curve of the first cylinder

From the graph;

Hu is measured as 130 mm and Tu is measured as 7.2 min

Figure 7: Determination of Hu and Tu from the settling curve of the second cylinder

From the graph;

Hu is measured as 80 mm and Tu is measured as 6.0 min

Figure 8: Determination of Hu and Tu from the settling curve of the third cylinder
From the graph;

Hu is measured as 70 mm and Tu is measured as 4.7 min

Figure 9: Determination of Hu and Tu from the settling curve of the fourth cylinder
From the graph;
Hu is measured as 40 mm and Tu is measured as 3.5 min.

Table 3: Hu and Tu values for each cylinder.

Cylinder # Hu (mm) Tu (min)

Cylinder 1 130 7.2
Cylinder 2 80 6.0
Cylinder 3 70 4.7
Cylinder 4 40 3.5

Underflow concentration can be calculated by the equation below:

C0 * H0 = Cu * Hu Cu =

For cylinder 1;

Cu = = 24454 mg/L

For cylinder 2;

Cu = = 30101 mg/L

For cylinder 3;

Cu = = 23161 mg/L

For cylinder 4;

Cu = = 20067 mg/L

Calculation of clarification and thickening areas:

Aclarification =

Qclarification = Q *

Athickening =

For cylinder 1;
Qclarification = 30 L/s * = 22.2 L/s

Aclarification = = 16.08 m2

Athickening = = 25.92 m2

For cylinder 2;

Qclarification = 30 L/s * = 25.5 L/s

Aclarification = = 12.49 m2

Athickening = = 21.39 m2

For cylinder 3;

Qclarification = 30 L/s * = 25.9 L/s

Aclarification = = 11.60 m2

Athickening = = 16.59 m2

For cylinder 4;

Qclarification = 30 L/s * = 27.6 L/s

Aclarification = = 8.08 m2

Athickening = = 12.48 m2

SVI calculation:

H 30

SVI=
H0( )
C0

Where;

H30 = Interface height at 30 min

H0 = Initial interface height

C0 = MLSS concentration of each cylinder

For cylinder 1;
 79 mm
( 500 mm )
∗1000 mg
6358 mg/ L
∗1000 mL
g
SVI= =24.85 mL /g
L

For cylinder 2;

48 mm
( 505 mm )
∗1000 mg
4768.5 mg/L
∗1000 mL
g
SVI= =19.93mL / g
L

For cylinder 3;

46 mm
( 510 mm )
∗1000 mg
3179 mg/ L
∗1000 mL
g
SVI= =28.37 mL /g
L

For cylinder 4;

29 mm
( 505 mm )
∗1000 mg
1589.5 mg/ L
∗1000 mL
g
SVI= =36.13 mL/g
L

DISCUSSION

There are mainly 4 types of sedimentation types such as discrete particle settling,
flocculant settling, hindered settling (zone settling) and compression settling. In the discrete
particle settling, particles settle as individual entities and there is no significant interaction
with neighboring particles and particles do not have tendancy to flocculate. For example,
removal of grit and sand in wastewater treatment. In the flocculant settling, as particle settle
and combine with other particles, the sizes of particles and their settling velocity increases.
Removal of suspended solids in primary sedimentation tanks of WWTP and settling of
chemically coagulated waters are the examples of 2nd type settling. In the 3rd type of settling
which is hindered (zone) settling, particles are so close together that interparticle forces are
able to hold them in fixed positions relative to each other and the mass of particles settles as a
zone at a constant velocity. It is generally seen in the biological floc removal in secondary
settling basins of WWTP. In the last settling type which is the compression settling, settling of
particles that are of such a high concentration that the particles touch each other and settling
can occur only by compression which takes place from the weight of particles. Is occurs in the
bottom of deep secondary clarifiers and in sludge thickening facilities (Kocamemi, n.d.).

If the sludge does not settle easily and have an excessive volume, it can be said that
bulking is occured. A bulking sludge is usually characterised by a sedimentation rate of less
than 0.3 m/h, an SSVI or SVI of above 120 and 180 mL/g respectively and a low density
structure (Meniscus, 2015). Excessive filamentous growth causes sludge bulking. Filamentous
bulking is common in completely-mixed, lower F/M systems. Intermittently-fed and plug-
flow systems are more resistant to this type of bulking. Low dissolved oxygen (DO)
concentration for the applied organic loading (F/M) leads to filamentous bulking by several
filaments. Simply, higher bulk DO is required to prevent the growth of these filaments as the
F/M increases, due to faster oxygen use within the floc at higher F/M, oxygen depletion inside
the floc, and the need to maintain aerobic conditions in the interior of the floc. A higher bulk
DO concentration increases the diffusion of oxygen into the floc interiors. Also, septicidy is
the another factor that influences the sludge bulking. Influent wastewater septicity is usually
indicated by odors (H2S caused by precipitated ferric sulfide. Septic wastes contain elevated
amounts of sulfides and low molecular weight organic acids (such as acetic and butyric acids),
both of which encourage the growth of certain filaments. Waste septicity can be treated by
preaeration. By doing this odor is released. Also, chemical oxidation (chlorine, hydrogen
peroxide or potassium permanganate), chemical precipitation (ferric chloride), or use of
sodium nitrate in the collection system as an oxygen source decreases the filamentous
bulking(Richard, n.d.).

Another cause of the sludge bulking is the low nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorous.Sufficient amounts of them must be present in the wastewater. . In general, a
BOD5:N:P weight ratio in the wastewater of 100:5:1 is needed for complete BOD removal.
While doing this, at least 1.0 mg/L total inorganic nitrogen (TIN = ammonia + nitrite +
nitrate) and 0.5-1.0 mg/L ortho-phosphorus should be remained in the effluent at all times.
Moreover, if the pH that is lower than the 6.5 may cause not the filamentous but fungal
bulking. To prevent this, aeration basin pH can be adjusted using caustic, lime or magnesium
hydroxide (Richard, n.d.).

Zone settling velocity depends on the total sludge concentration. Higher sludge
concentrations result in lower settling velocities. Several experiments showed that particle
settling velocities are lower at higher concentrations by a factor usually given by the widely
used semiempirical Richardson and Zaki (1954) equation (Baldock, et al., 2004).

ws
=(1−c)n
wt

where ws is the settling velocity at voidage e (porosity in the soil mechanics literature),

c is volumetric concentration

wt is the terminal settling velocity in an infinite fluid

n is an empirically determined exponent depends on the particle Reynolds number.

By using above equation, it can be seen that as concentration increases settling

velocities decrease with respect to that.

REFERENCES

1. Baldock, T., Tomkins, M., Nielsen, P., & Hughes, M. (2004). Settling velocity of

sediments at high concentrations. Coastal Engineering, 51(1), 91-100.
doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2003.12.004
2. Kocamemi, B. A. (n.d.). Sedimentation [PowerPoint]. Retrieved from
http://mimoza.marmara.edu.tr/~bilge.alpaslan/enve301/Lectures/Chp_10.pdf
3. Meniscus. (2015, December 1). Bulking In The Activated Sludge Process - Meniscus.
Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://www.meniscus.co.uk/bulking-in-the-activated-
sludge-process/
4. Richard, M. (n.d.). Practical Control Methods for Activated Sludge Bulking and
Foaming - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved from The Sear-
Brown Group website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/34373.html