Mixed liquor suspended solids

Mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) is the concentration of suspended solids, in an aeration tank during
the activated sludge process, which occurs during the treatment of waste water. The units MLSS is primarily
measured in are milligram per litre (mg/L), but for activated sludge its mostly measured in gram per litre
[g/L] which is equal to kilogram per cubic metre [kg/m3]. Mixed liquor is a combination of raw or unsettled
wastewater or pre-settled wastewater and activated sludge within an aeration tank. MLSS consists mostly of
microorganisms and non-biodegradable suspended matter. MLSS is an important part of the activated sludge
process to ensure that there is a sufficient quantity of active biomass available to consume the applied
quantity of organic pollutant at any time. This is known as the food to microorganism ratio, more commonly
notated as the F/M ratio. By maintaining this ratio at the appropriate level the biomass will consume high
percentages of the food. This minimizes the loss of residual food in the treated effluent. In simple terms, the
more the biomass consumes the lower the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) will be in the discharge. It is
important that MLSS removes COD and BOD in order to purify water for clean surface waters, and
subsequently clean drinking water and hygiene. Raw sewage enters in the water treatment process with a
concentration of sometimes several hundred mg/L of BOD. Upon being treated with MLSS and other
methods of treatment, the concentration of BOD in water is lowered to less than 2 mg/L, which is
considered to be clean, safe to discharge to surface waters or to reuse water.

The total weight of MLSS within an aeration tank can be calculated by multiplying the concentration of
MLSS (kg/m3) in the aeration tank by the tank volume (m3).

Contents
Overview
Mixed liquor volatile suspended solids
Separation and Removal process
Effects in water treatment
If content is too high
If content is too low
Calculations
Performance
Calculations
References

Overview
MLSS is responsible for removing the biochemical oxygen demand make-up of a large portion of the solids
that are retained in the activated sludge process within the water treatment process. They are the "active"
part of the activated sludge process. Mixed liquor suspended solids are the solids under aeration. MLSS is
measured by filtering a known volume of the mixed liquor sample, which is the same way that suspended
solids are measured in wastewater. Some of the MLSS may be an inorganic material. Sometimes this may
represent a large percentage of the solids present in the wastewater.
Environmental engineering focuses on the particles suspended in water and the suitable operation of water
treatment plants. Therefore, it is important to measure the total mass of suspended solids, which is the
MLSS, as well as the mass of organic matter suspended in the activated sludge unit. These measurements
allow engineers to adjust the flow rate of return sludge from the secondary clarifier into the secondary
treatment reactor. This ensures that influent organic matter will be treated with a correct concentration of
microorganisms.

Mixed liquor volatile suspended solids

The portion of the MLSS that is actually eating the incoming food is referred to as the Mixed Liquor Volatile
Suspended Solids (MLVSS). The volatile solids concentration in a sample of mixed liquor will consist
mostly of microorganisms and organic matter. As a result, the volatile solids concentration of mixed liquor
is approximately equal to the amount of microorganisms in the water and can be used to determine whether
there are enough microorganisms present to purify the water.

Separation and Removal process

MLSS is separated from the treated or purified water by settling in a settling tank in the activated sludge
process. The excess sludge has to be removed from the system.

Effects in water treatment

If content is too high

The process is prone to bulking of solids and the treatment system can become overloaded.
This can cause the dissolved oxygen content to drop; this may reduce the efficiency of
nitrification and the settleability of the sludge.
Excessive aeration will be required which wastes electricity.

it will create thick foam on upper layer.

If content is too low

The process may not remove sufficient organic matter from the wastewater.
The sludge age may be too low to enable nitrification.

The typical control band for the concentration of MLSS is 2 to 4 g/L for conventional activated sludge, or up
to 15 g/l for membrane bioreactors.

One of the easiest control procedures for activated sludge systems is the Constant Mixed Liquor Suspended
Solids method. In this method, the operator selects a certain MLSS concentration or range of mix liquor
concentrations that produces the best effluent and the highest removal efficiencies. This specific value or
range must be calculated depending on COD or BOD load [kg/d]. When the operator finds the optimum
MLSS concentration for each plant, he attempts to maintain this value by adjusting the sludge wasting or
sludge excess rate. One rule of thumb for activated sludge systems is that for every pound of BOD removed
in the secondary system a half a pound of new solids is generated through reproduction of the organisms and
addition of new organisms from the influent wastes. So, the operator tries to waste the proper amount of
solids to keep his selected optimum mix liquor concentration constant. If the MLSS concentration is above
the desired concentration, the wasting of the excess solids will have to be started or increased. If the MLSS
concentration is below the desired concentration level, wasting should be decreased or stopped.

Calculations
MLSS (g/L) = SV [mL/L]/SVI [mL/g] or SVI [mL/g] = MLSS (g/L)/SV30 [mL/L]

Where:
SVI = sludge volume index (mL/g)
SV30 = Volume of settled solids per 1 litre after 30 minutes

In fact SVI is a calculation from two analyses : SV30 and MLSS.

0=(Q+Qr)(X')-(QrX'r+QsX'r)

Where:
Q = wastewater flow rate (m3/d)
Qr = return sludge flow rate (m3/d)
X' = MLSS (kg/m3)
X'r = return sludge concentration (kg/m3)
Qs = sludge surplus (or excess) flow rate (m3/d)

This equilibrium formula for settling tanks is mostly calculated for the initial flows in m3/h. This formula
describes that the incoming amount of MLSS in a settler should be equivalent to the outcoming amount of
MLSS via the return sludge flow. This equilibrium is only valid if the effluent water contains a low
concentration in suspended solids. In normal conditions the excess amount is very low in comparison to the
return amount, and for that reason many times the excess amount is neglected. In that case the formula will
be : (Q+Qr)(X') = (QrX'r)

Performance
Materials: Obtain a sample of mixed liquor. Transfer the sample into a laboratory in order to analyze it.
Measure the volume weight of the sample. Remove two filter papers from a desiccator and record the weight
of each. Place the filter holder on a vacuum flask and then place another filter on top of the filter holder by
using a pair of tweezers. Stir the sample of mixed liquor in order to get a good mixture for the experiment.
After sample is mixed, pour 5 mL into a graduated cylinder. Turn on the vacuum pump and pour the sample
into the filter holder. After all the mixed liquor has gone through, run three portions of 10 mL distilled water
through the filter holder to rinse any particles that may have stuck to the glass. Allow the vacuum pump to
run an additional three minutes. This will help remove any extra water from the filter before drying. Switch
the vacuum pump off and remove the filter from the filter holder and place in the corresponding weighing
dish. Repeat above process for as many trials as needed. Place the filter(s) into a drying oven, which is set to
103°–105° C, for one hour. Upon drying, replace filters into a desiccator for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes in
the desiccator, the filters are to be weighed.

Calculations

MLSS (g/L) = [(A - B)]÷[Volume of sample in liters]

Where:
A is the sample and filter weight in gram
B is the weight of the filter in gram

References
Davis, Mackenzie Leo, and David A. Cornwell. Introduction to Environmental Engineering.
Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008. Print.
Gray, N. F. Biology of Wastewater Treatment. London: Imperial College, 2004. Print.
Davis, Mackenzie Leo, and David A. Cornwell. Introduction to Environmental Engineering.
Boston, MA: WCB McGraw-Hill, 1998. Print.
http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~nurban/classes/CE3502/spring12/modelreports/MLSSreport.pdf
http://ragsdaleassociates.com/WastewaterSystemOperatorsManual/Chapter%208%20-
%20Activated%20Sludge.pdf

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This page was last edited on 9 September 2019, at 02:57 (UTC).

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