BIOLOGICAL

PROCESSES IN
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 150
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
OUTLINE
• Secondary Treatment Stage
• Activated Sludge Treatment
• Attached Growth Treatment
• Selection of Aerobic Treatment

• Sludge Management Stage

Secondary
Treatment Stage
SECONDARY TREATMENT
STAGE
• Removal of biodegradable organics and
suspended solids, using chemical and/or
biological processes.
SECONDARY TREATMENT
STAGE
• may remove more than 85 % of BOD and SS
• does not remove significant amounts of
nitrogen, phosphorous , heavy metals,
pathogenic bacteria and viruses
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
• To coagulate and remove the non-settleable
colloidal solids and to stabilize organic matter
using microorganisms.
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
• Principle: Oxidation/Synthesis
𝐶𝑂𝐻𝑁 + 𝑂2 + 𝑁𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 + 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑠
→ 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐶5 𝐻7 𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 + 𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 + 𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 + 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎
→ 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 + 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠
+ (𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠)

• convert colloidal solids into various gases and

cell tissues with specific gravity slightly higher
than water
• cell tissue must be separated from treated
effluent by sedimentation.
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
Activated Sludge
Treatment
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
PRINCIPLES
• Wastewater is aerated in a tank
• Bacteria are encouraged to grow by providing
Oxygen.
• Food (BOD)
• Correct temperature
• Time
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
PRINCIPLES
• As bacteria consume BOD, they grow and
multiply
• Treated wastewater flows into secondary
clarifier
• Bacterial cells settle, removed from clarifier as
sludge
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
PRINCIPLES
• Part of sludge is recycled back to activated
sludge tank, to maintain bacteria population
• Remainder of sludge is wasted
CONTROL VOLUME
AERATION REACTOR
AERATION TANK
AIR DIFFUSER
AIR DIFFUSER
SURFACE AERATORS
JET AERATORS
STATIC AERATOR
ADVANTAGES
• Diverse; can be used for one household up a
huge plant
• Removes organics
• Oxidation and Nitrification achieved
ADVANTAGES
• Biological nitrification without adding
chemicals
• Capable of removing ~ 97% of suspended
solids
• The most widely used wastewater treatment
process
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• Does not remove color from industrial wastes
and may increase the color through formation
of highly colored intermediates through
oxidation
• Does not remove nutrients, tertiary treatment
is necessary
• Problem of getting well settled sludge
PLUG FLOW
PLUG FLOW
• Wastewater Flows through as a plug & is
treated as it winds its way through the tank.
• Settled wastewater and activated sludge enter
the head end of aeration tank and mixed by
diffused air or mechanical aeration
• As the wastewater goes through the system,
BOD and organics concentration are greatly
reduced.
COMPLETE MIX
COMPLETE MIX
• Settled wastewater and recycled activated
sludge are introduced at different points in the
aeration tank
• This is the most common method used today.
• Since the wastewater is completely mixed with
bacteria and oxygen, the volatile suspended
solids concentration and oxygen demand are
the same throughout the tank.
STEP AERATION
STEP AERATION
• settled wastewater is introduced at several
points in the aeration tank.
CONTACT STABILIZATION
CONTACT STABILIZATION
• Microorganisms consume organics in the
contact tank.
• Raw wastewater flows into the contact tank
where it is aerated and mixed with bacteria.
• Soluble materials pass through bacterial cell
walls, while insoluble materials stick to the
outside.
CONTACT STABILIZATION
• Solids settle out later and are wasted from the
system or returned to a stabilization tank.
• Microbes digest organics in the stabilization
tank, and are then recycled back to the contact
tank, because they need more food.
• Detention time is minimized, so the size of the
contact tank can be smaller.
CONTACT STABILIZATION
• Volume requirements for the stabilization tank
are also smaller because the basin receives
only concentrated return sludge, there is no
incoming raw wastewater.
• Often no primary clarifier before the contact
tank due to the rapid uptake of soluble and
insoluble food.
OXIDATION DITCH AND KRAUS
PROCESS
OXIDATION DITCH
• similar to plug flow but uses a circulator
aeration basin.
KRAUS PROCESS
• The anaerobically digested sludge and digester
supernatant may be added to the return
sludge, thus improving settling of the floc.
• A portion of the return sludge flow from the
secondary clarifier is mixed with the
anaerobically digested sludge and the digester
supernatant before being combined with the
return sludge stream andrecycled back to the
aeration basin.
OVERALL MASS BALANCE:
BIOMASS

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 =
𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 − 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 − 𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 + 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑡ℎ −
𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ

𝑑𝑋
V = Q𝑋0 − 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 − 𝑄𝑋𝑤 + 𝑉𝜇𝑋 − 𝑉𝑘𝑑 𝑋
𝑑𝑡
OVERALL MASS BALANCE:
BIOMASS
𝑑𝑋
𝐴𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒: =0
𝑑𝑡

𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑑 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑:

𝑑𝑋
V = Q𝑋0 − 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 − 𝑄𝑋𝑤 + 𝑉𝜇𝑋 − 𝑉𝑘𝑑 𝑋
𝑑𝑡

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
Q𝑋0 + 𝑉 − 𝑘𝑑 𝑋 = 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
Q𝑆0 − 𝑉 − 𝑘𝑑 𝑋 = 𝑄 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑆𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤
𝑌 𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
 OVERALL MASS BALANCE:
BIOMASS
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑚3
𝑄, 𝑄𝑤 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤, 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦,
𝑑

𝑉 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛, 𝑚3

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, ℎ−1
𝑚𝑔
𝐾𝑠 = ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡,
𝐿

𝑘𝑑 = 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, ℎ−1

 OVERALL MASS BALANCE:
BIOMASS
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑋0 , 𝑋, 𝑋𝑒 , 𝑋𝑤 =
𝑚𝑔
𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒, 𝑎𝑠 𝑀𝐿𝑉𝑆𝑆
𝐿
𝑚𝑔
𝑆 = 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝑎𝑠 𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑂𝐷
𝐿
𝑚𝑔
𝑆0 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑠 𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑂𝐷
𝐿
𝑚𝑔 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑔 𝑉𝑆𝑆
𝑌 = 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑,
𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑔 𝐵𝑂𝐷
Activated Sludge
Treatment
DESIGN
ASSUMPTIONS
• Influent and effluent biomass concentrations
are negligible.
• Aeration tank is a fully mixed CSTR.
• All reactions occur in aeration basin.
• Then:
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤
= + 𝑘𝑑
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆 𝑉𝑋
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆 𝑄𝑌
= 𝑆0 − 𝑆
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆 𝑉𝑋
RETENTION TIME
𝑄 1
=
𝑉 𝜃

𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤 1
=
𝑉𝑋 𝜃𝑐

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝐻𝑅𝑇)
𝜃𝑐 = 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠/𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑆𝑅𝑇)
DESIGN EQUATIONS

𝐾𝑠 1 + 𝑘𝑑 𝜃𝑐 𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
𝑆= 𝜃𝑐 =
𝜃𝑐 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑 − 1 𝑆 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑 − 𝐾𝑠 𝑘𝑑

𝜃𝑐 𝑌 𝑆0 − 𝑆
𝑋=
𝜃 1 + 𝑘𝑑 𝜃𝑐
DESIGN EQUATIONS

𝐾𝑠 1 + 𝑘𝑑 𝜃𝑐
𝑆=
𝜃𝑐 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑 − 1

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒

𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠 𝜃𝑐 → ∞:
𝐾𝑠 𝑘𝑑
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑
DESIGN EQUATIONS

𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
𝜃𝑐 =
𝑆 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑 − 𝐾𝑠 𝑘𝑑

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝜃𝑐 𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝜇 → 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 :

𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆0
𝜃𝑐𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑆0 𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑘𝑑 − 𝐾𝑠 𝑘𝑑
DESIGN VALUES FOR
DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
GROWTH CONSTANT RANGE TYPICAL
𝑚𝑔
𝐾𝑠 , 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 , 25 to 100 60
𝐿
𝑘𝑑 , 𝑑−1 0.025 to 0.075 0.06
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 , 𝑑−1 2 to 10 5
𝑚𝑔 𝑀𝐿𝑉𝑆𝑆
𝑌, 0.4 to 0.8 0.6
𝑚𝑔 𝐵𝑂𝐷5
DESIGN VALUES FOR
DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
TIME RANGE
𝜃𝑐 , 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 4 to 10
𝜃, ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 4 to 10
 DESIGN PROCEDURE
Establish effluent BOD5 allowable to meet BOD5 and SS
effluent limits.

Determine what θc is required to meet the effluent

soluble BOD5 allowable.

Solve for the mixed liquor volatile suspended solids

(MLVSS) concentration given a particular hydraulic
retention time θ. Or solve for θ given a particular
MLVSS.
 DESIGN PROCEDURE
Calculate the Return Activated Sludge (RAS)
Flow, Qr and Concentration, Xr.

Estimate Sludge Production.

Calculate oxygen requirement for

carbonaceous BOD removal.

Determine Overflow Rate and Weir Loading for

Secondary Sedimentation Tank.
 RETURN ACTIVATED SLUDGE
(RAS)
𝑋′𝑟 𝑄𝑟 = 𝑋 ′ 𝑄𝑟 + 𝑄
106
𝑋′𝑟 =
𝑆𝑉𝐼

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑚𝑔
𝑋 ′ = 𝑀𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑀𝐿𝑆𝑆 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, ≈
𝐿
1.2𝑋
𝑚𝑔
𝑋′𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝐴𝑆 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛,
𝐿
𝑚3
𝑄𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝐴𝑆 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒,
𝑠
SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (SVI)
• Volume in milliliters occupied by 1 gram of a
suspension after 30 minutes settling.
• Typically used to monitor settling
characteristics of activated sludge and other
biological suspensions.
 SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (SVI)
Get a mixed liquor sample from the aeration tank at the
discharge end.

Determine the suspended solids (MLSS) concentration

of a mixed sample of the suspension.

Determine the Settled Sludge Volume (SV30) by filling a

standard one liter graduated cylinder to the 1 L mark
and allowing undisturbed settling for 30 minutes. Read
the volume occupied by settled sludge.
SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (SVI)
𝑚𝐿 1,000 𝑚𝑔
𝑆𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑆𝑉30, ×
𝐿 1𝑔
𝑆𝑉𝐼 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑀𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑀𝐿𝑆𝑆,
𝐿

𝑚𝐿
𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑉𝐼: 50 𝑡𝑜 150
𝑔

𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.

SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (SVI)
SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (SVI)
SLUDGE PRODUCTION
1 𝑘𝑔
𝑃𝑥 = 𝑌𝑂𝐵𝑆 𝑄 𝑆0 − 𝑆 ×
1,000 𝑔
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑘𝑔
𝑃𝑥 = 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛,
𝑑𝑎𝑦
𝑚𝑔 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑, 𝑉𝑆𝑆
𝑌𝑂𝐵𝑆 = 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑,
𝑚𝑔 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑
𝑌
𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠: 𝑌𝑂𝐵𝑆 =
1 + 𝑘𝑑 𝜃𝑐
𝑚3
𝑄 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤,
𝑑𝑎𝑦
𝑆 = 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐵𝑂𝐷5
𝑆0 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐵𝑂𝐷5
 OXYGEN REQUIREMENT
𝑄 𝑆0 − 𝑆 1 𝑘𝑔
𝑂2 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = × − 1.42 𝑃𝑥
𝑓 1,000 𝑔

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑓 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑂𝐷𝐿 = 0.45 𝑡𝑜 0.68

𝑄 𝑆0 − 𝑆 1 𝑘𝑔 1 𝑘𝑔
𝑂2 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = × − 1.42 𝑃𝑥 + 4.57𝑄 𝑁0 − 𝑁 ×
𝑓 1,000 𝑔 1,000 𝑔

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒,
𝑁𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑁𝐻4
− 𝑁 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦
OXYGEN REQUIREMENT
• Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR)
• O2 required per unit volume of aeration tank:
• Typical volumetric air rate is 62 m3 air/kg BOD5.
𝑆0 − 𝑆 1.42𝑃
𝑂𝑈𝑅 = 𝑅𝑂2 𝑉 = −
𝜃 𝑉

𝑆0 − 𝑆 1.42 𝑆0 − 𝑆
𝑂𝑈𝑅 = −
𝜃 𝜃 1 + 𝑘𝑑 𝜃𝑐
SEDIMENTATION TANK
CRITERIA PRIMARY SECONDARY
𝑄 Average Peak Peak
Overflow Rate m3/m2-d
𝐴 41 61 49
𝑄 < 1mgd > 1mgd < 1mgd > 1mgd
Weir Loading m3/m2-d
𝐿 124 186 124 186
Activated Sludge
Treatment
OPERATION
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
• Characteristics of system that are specified as
part of design are:
• Solids/Sludge Retention Time or Mean Cell
Retention/Residence Time (MCRT), θc
• Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) Concentration,
X.
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
• Operational Considerations:
• Effluent quality (BOD5 and Suspended Solids)
• Sludge characteristics of the biomass (SVI)
• Sludge wastage or solids inventory (θc, F/M Ratio)
• These three objectives/operational parameters
are interrelated.
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
• A good settling sludge will produce good
effluent quality.
• Maintaining the proper solids inventory will
produce a good settling sludge.
• Controlling will maintain the proper solids
inventory.
SOLIDS/SLUDGE RETENTION
TIME
• Affects properties of MLSS.
• MLSS concentration affects treatment
efficiency, oxygen transfer efficiency, solids
settling, and solids recycle ratio.
FOOD TO MICROORGANISM
RATIO (F/M)
• Alternative control parameter to θc.

𝐹 𝑄𝑆0 𝑚𝑔 𝐵𝑂𝐷5
= =
𝑀 𝑉𝑋 𝑚𝑔 𝑀𝐿𝑉𝑆𝑆
• Dictates character of bacteria and floc.
• State of bacteria controls nature of flocs.
NORMAL OPERATION VALUES
PARAMETER TYPICAL VALUES
Sludge Retention Time (SRT), days 5 to 15
Warmer Climates: 5 to 10
Colder Climates: 10 to 15
F/M Ratio, kg BOD5/kg MLSS-day 0.2 to 0.4
F/M Ratio, kg COD/kg MLSS-day 0.3 to 0.6
MLSS, mg/L 2,500 (1,500 to 4,000)
MLVSS, mg/L 2,000
 OUT OF NORMAL RANGE
CONDITIONS
PARAMETER CONDITION DESCRIPTION
sludge is “dispersed” or “pin” floc; sludge particles are too small and do not
Too Short
settle well.
Solids Retention Time
“sludge bulking” occurs either by too much slime (viscous bulking) or growth
Too Long
of filamentous bacteria (filamentous bulking); sludge does not settle well.
1. There is excess food.
2. Bacteria are growing fast, slime layer is thin.
High
3. Favors motile bacteria.
4. Excess food carries into effluent.
1. Cells are starved – undergoing endogenous respiration.
2. Cells undergoing relatively high death (lysis), predation, respiration (Ke
F/M Ratio increased).
3. Nearly all substrate is consumed.
Low 4. Cells are mostly attached to flocs.
5. Cell slime layers are thickest:
a. shed by dying cells
b. create zoogloea (animal glue)
c. good aeration needed to create polyssacharide gums
FILAMENTOUS SLUDGE
OLD SLUDGE
OLD SLUDGE
FILAMENTOUS SLUDGE
YOUNG SLUDGE
SLUDGE GROWTH
SLUDGE GROWTH
Attached Growth
Treatment
ATTACHED GROWTH
• Rather than being suspended as in activated
most of the biomass is attached to some
support media over which they grow
• Examples:
1. Trickling Filter
2. Rotating Biological Contractor (RBC)
ATTACHED GROWTH
• The organic contents of the effluents are
degraded by the attached growth population
• Oxygen from the air diffuses through this liquid
film and enters the biomass.
ATTACHED GROWTH
• As this organic matter grows, the biomass layer
becomes thicker and eventually will separate
from the support media
• The separation occurs in relatively large flocs
which settle relatively quickly
ATTACHED GROWTH
TRICKLING FILTER
TRICKLING FILTER
• Tank is filled with solid media
• Rocks
• Plastic packing material
• Bacteria grow on surface of media
• Wastewater is trickled over media, at top of
tank
TRICKLING FILTER
• As water trickles through media, bacteria
degrade BOD
• Bacteria eventually die, fall off of media
surface
• Filter is open to atmosphere, air flows naturally
through media
TRICKLING FILTER
• Treated water leaves bottom of tank, flows into
secondary clarifier
• Bacterial cells settle, removed from clarifier as
sludge
• Some water is recycled to the filter
COMPONENTS
• a circular tank filled with the packing media in
depths from 1 to 2.5 m, or 10 m if synthetic
packing is used. The bottom of the tank must
be constructed rigid enough to support the
packing and also designed to collect the
treated wastewater
COMPONENTS
• a rotating distribution arms which distributes
the wastewater using regularly-spaced nozzles
• A secondary clarifier
TRICKLING FILTER
TRICKLING FILTER
TRICKLING FILTER
TRICKLING FILTER
OBJECTIVES OF
RECIRCULATION
• reduce strength of filter influent
• maintain constant wetting rate
• force sloughing to occur, increase shear forces
OBJECTIVES OF
RECIRCULATION
• dilute toxic wastes
• reseed the filter and
• increase air flow
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• High specific surface area :
• Specific surface area ("packing density”)is the
measure of how much biologically active area is
contained in a given volume.
• High void fraction :
• Void fraction is the percentage of open space or
volume in the packing.
• High void fractions allow free and unrestricted
flow of water or air and water.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• Large free (or clear) passage diameter
• Resistance to plugging or clogging
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• Inert material of construction :
• non-corrosive, resistant to rot or decay and
generally impervious to chemical attack.
• UV protection should be incorporated in any
plastic biofiltration packing.
• Low cost per unit surface area
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• Good mechanical strength :
• it is very desirable that the media be able to
safely support the weight of one or more
workers
• better dimensional stability, reduced vessel
support requirements and longer life.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• Light weight:
• low freight cost
• heavier packings typically require stronger and
more expensive supports and vessels
• Flexible in overall shape:
• Since biofilter vessels come in all shapes and
sizes, the packing should fit into any shape
vessel.
• Ease of maintenance
CHARACTERISTICS OF
PACKING
• Low energy consumption
• Light Attenuation
• packing should be opaque and the shape
should prevent light from penetrating into the
interior of the packing.
TRICKLING FILTER
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Rock and Gravel:
• readily available, inexpensive and can have
relatively high specific surface areas
• typically very inert and durable with excellent
mechanical strength
• Disadvantages
• very low void fraction
• tend to plug rapidly
• heavy
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Fiber Mesh Pads:
• thin fibers similar to air conditioning filters but
are formed into heavier and thicker pads
• act as both a physical filter and a biological
filter
• light in weight and have more surface area per
unit
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Fiber Mesh Pads:
• Disadvantages
• tend to rapidly plug and lose effectiveness under
most circumstances
• difficulty of cleaning and regenerating the pads
• difficulty of installing the large quantities of pad
needed
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Brillo Pads:
• similar to the mesh pad is the "ribbon bundle"
or "brillo pad" type packing
• light in weight and offer relatively large
amounts of surface area at a low cost
• successful in small aquarium applications
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Brillo Pads:
• Disadvantages
• very poor mechanical strength
• not possible to stack high without compressing the
bottom layers
• become easily plugged.
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Random or Dumped Packings:
• injection molded plastic shapes
• made from PP (polypropylene) or HDPE (high
density polyethylene).
• are also available in stainless steel, ceramic,
porcelain
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Random or Dumped Packings:
• have a good void fraction and relatively high
resistance to plugging
• packing is small
• must be installed over a grid or screen type
support
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Random or Dumped Packings:
• Disadvantages
• have poor mechanical strength
• will tend to settle and compact over time.
• do not incorporate sufficient ultraviolet inhibitors
to protect the packings from direct sunlight
TYPES OF PACKINGS
• Random or Dumped Packings:
• Disadvantages
• Expensive
• the inability of the operator to determine what is
happening in the interior of the biofilter bed
TRICKLING FILTER
TRICKLING FILTER
STRUCTURED PACKINGS
• have virtually all of the characteristics that one
looks for in the "ideal" packing.
• typically constructed of vacuum formed sheets
of PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
• lower cost per unit surface area than injection
molded packings
ADVANTAGES
• great mechanical strength combined with light
weight.
• can be used without any containment vessel in
a trickling filter design.
• ease of installation and removal.
• allow the design of filters that operate with the
lowest energy costs in terms of water pumping
head and aeration compressor pressures.
ADVANTAGES

Note : 1 = Worst, 5 = Best, A = Acceptable

ADVANTAGES
• simplicity of operation
• resistance to shock loads
• low sludge yield and
• low power requirements.
DISADVANTAGES
• relatively low BOD removal (85%)
• high suspended solids in the effluent (20 - 30
mg/L)
• little operational control.
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
• RBCs constructed of plastic media on a long
shaft
• Media is submerged in a tank
• Shaft rotates media through water
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
• Bacteria grow on media, degrade BOD in water
• Bacteria get air by exposure to atmosphere
• Bacteria eventually die, fall off media surface
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
• Dead bacteria and other solids are removed in
the secondary clarifier
• Media up 12 feet in diameter
• Shafts as long as 25 feet
• Media areas up to 180,000 square feet per
shaft
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
• Rotating biological contractors (RBC) units are
another form of attached growth processes.
• In RBC units the biomass is attached to disks
1. rotate at 1 to 3 rpm
2. immersed up to 40% in the wastewater
3. made of corrugated, light plastic material.
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
• The ratio of surface area of disks to liquid
volume is typically 5 l/m2.
• The power consumption is in the order of 2
kW/1 000 m3/day of capacity.
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
CONTRACTORS
LIMITATIONS
• Organic and hydraulic shock loads
• Process efficiency would be expected to
decrease during colder temperatures.
• Lack of operational flexibility.
ADVANTAGES
• process simplicity and stability.
• very low maintenance cost.
• largely limited to greasing of bearings and
inspecting the chains and sprockets for wear
and slack
• low disc speed used in the bio-disc process
achieves sufficient mixing and aeration while
consuming relatively little power.
Selection of
Aerobic
Treatment
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
• the area available
• the skill needed for operation
• costs (both operating and initial investment)
OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS
RESISTANCE TO
SENSITIVITY TO
SHOCK LOADS OF DEGREE OF SKILL
SYSTEM INTERMITTENT
ORGANICS OR NEEDED
OPERATIONS
TOXICS
Lagoons Maximum Minimum Minimum
Trickling Filters Moderate Moderate Moderate
Activated Sludge Minimum Maximum Maximum
COST CONSIDERATIONS
OPERATING
SYSTEM LAND NEEDED INITIAL COSTS
COSTS
Lagoons Maximum Minimum Minimum
Trickling Filters Moderate Moderate Moderate
Activated Sludge Minimum Maximum Maximum
Sludge Treatment
Stage
CONTROL VOLUME
SLUDGE
• Solid material that has settled in clarifiers.
• Sources:
• Primary Clarifiers (TSS removed by gravity)
• Secondary Clarifiers (Biomass)
SLUDGE CHARACTERISTICS
• Primary:
• Contains both Organic (BOD) and Inorganic (sand, silt,
etc.) solids.
• 5% solids (95% water).
• Secondary:
• Dead Bacteria
• Activated Sludge (1% Solids)
• Trickling Filter and RBC (5% Solids)
REGULATIONS
• Regulatory bodies have standards for sludge,
depending on final use or disposal.
• Apply to agricultural use, compost, landfilling,
and incineration.
REGULATIONS
• Regulations are put into place since the
following toxics tend to concentrate in sludge:
• Heavy Metals
• PCBs (Polycarbonated Biphenyl)
• Pesticides
• Restrictions on sludge use, depending on
concentration of toxics and pathogens.
SLUDGE TREATMENT STAGES
• Thickening
• Stabilization
• Disinfection
• Dewatering
• Final Disposal
Sludge Treatment
Stage
THICKENING STAGE
THICKENING
• Remove water before stabilization, decrease
volume.
• Processes:
• Gravity Thickening (same equipment as sedimentation,
but smaller)
• Dissolved Air Flotation
• Centrifuge
TYPICAL THICKENING
PERFORMANCE
SOLIDS CONCENTRATION (%)
TYPE
START FINAL
Primary 2 to 5 8 to 12
Secondary 0.4 to 1.5 4 to 6
Primary-Secondary (50-50) 1 to 2.5 6 to 8
GRAVITY THICKENER
GRAVITY THICKENER
GRAVITY THICKENER
DISSOLVED AIR FLOATATION
DISSOLVED AIR FLOATATION
CENTRIFUGE
CENTRIFUGE
Sludge Treatment
Stage
STABILIZATION STAGE
STABILIZATION
• Kill pathogens, eliminate odors, stabilize
organics, and concentrate solids.
• Anaerobic Digestion Process
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
• Most common method of stabilization.
• Sludge is placed in a sealed tank.
• Anaerobic bacteria grow and degrade sludge
solids.
• Produces:
• CH4 (Methane)
• CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
• H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide)
CHEMISTRY
• Sludge ↔ CH4 + CO2 + H2O + stable solids.
• Stable solids are removed, sent to final
disposal.
• Leftover water returned to treatment plant.
METHANE USE
• Methane (CH4) can be burned as fuel
• Heat Digester
• Run electric generator
• Flare
TYPES OF DIGESTERS
• Standard:
• 30 to 60 days digestion time
• Not mixed or heated
• High Rate:
• 15 to 30 days digestion time
• Mixed and heated
CHEMISTRY OF ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
Sludge Treatment
Stage
DISINFECTION STAGE
DISINFECTION
• Kill pathogens that survive stabilization
process.
• Physical Process:
• Heat
• Chemical Processes:
• Chlorination
• Lime
Sludge Treatment
Stage
DEWATERING STAGE
DEWATERING
• Remove water from stabilized sludge.
• Processes:
• Vacuum Filter
• Centrifuge
• Drying Beds
GRAVITY BELT THICKENER
BELT PRESS
SCREW PRESS
DRYING BEDS
Sludge Treatment
Stage
FINAL DISPOSAL
FINAL DISPOSAL
• Dispose of sludge in
environmentally-
sound way.
• Processes:
• Landfill
• Land Application
• Composting
LANDFILL
• Place sludge in a
typical solid waste
landfill.
• No beneficial use
with this method.
LAND APPLICATION
• Sludge is injected or
tilled into soil.
• Done on either non-
agricultural or
agricultural land.
COMPOSTING
• Sludge solids are
composted with
other solids.
• Compost is sold or
given away.