Fundamentals of Wastewater Treatment

Arya V
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
 Wastewater Characteristics

Physical Chemical Biological

• Solids • pH • Bacteria
• Color • Alkalinity • Virus
• Temperature • Organic • Protozoa
• Odor matter • Helminths
• Heavy metals
• Refractory
organics
• Nutrients
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 Biochemical oxygen demand

Amount of oxygen consumed during microbial utilization of organics

▪ In a lab test, we find BOD5 by incubating the sample at 20ᵒC for 5 days
after adding essential nutrients for the microbial process.

• DOI Initial DO Conc.

BOD = (𝐷𝑂𝐼 −𝐷𝑂𝐹 )/𝑃 • DOF Final DO Conc.
• P Dilution factor
 BOD Kinetics

• Rate at which organics ▪ Lt is the oxygen equivalent

are utilized is directly of the organics at time t
proportional to the and k is a reaction
amount available. constant.
▪ L0 is the oxygen
equivalent of the total
mass of organics.

▪ Value of reaction constant k

is temperature dependent.
▪ Change in k is given by van’t
Hoff-Arrhenius equation.

𝐾𝑇 = 𝐾20 𝜃 𝑇−20

• 𝜽 value taken is 1.047

• 𝑲𝑻 represents the value
at temperature T
▪ Determine ultimate BOD and 3-day BOD at 27 C for a
wastewater whose 5-day BOD at 20 C is 200 mg/L.
k=0.23 /day
 Chemical oxygen demand
▪ Amount of oxygen required to oxidize the organic material
in wastewater
▪ Using dichromate solution
▪ Treatability of wastewater

BOD/COD >0.5 biodegradable

 Nutrients

▪ Total Nitrogen= Organic N+ Ammonia+ Nitrite+ Nitrate

▪ Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen = Organic N+ Ammonia- N

▪ Nitrification

▪ Denitrification

▪ Total phosphorus= Ortho P+ Poly P+ Org. P

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 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
(i)Preliminary Treatment
✓ removes large objects, girts and non-degradable materials
✓ protects pumps, mechanical equipment from damage, prevent clogging of
valves
✓ screens and grit chamber
(ii) Primary treatment
✓ remove suspended, easily settleable and floating material
✓ Primary sedimentation tank (Primary clarifier)
(iii) Secondary treatment
✓ Remove suspended, colloidal and dissolved organic sand inorganics
matter
✓ Biological treatment (ASP-Activated Sludge Process, Trickling filter, RBC-
Rotating biological contactors),chemical-physical processes
(iv) Tertiary treatment.
✓ Polishing the secondary treated effluent to meet the reuse / discharge
requirements
✓ Absorption, Advanced oxidation, disinfection
Contaminant Process of removal

Suspended solids Sedimentation

Biodegradable organics
Screening and Communition
Filtration
Flotation
Coagulation/Sedimentation
Land treatment systems
Biological treatment

Pathogens Disinfection

Nutrients Biological nutrient removal

Physico-chemical treatment
Refractory organics Adsorption
Advanced oxidation processes
Heavy metals Chemical treatment

Dissolved inorganic compounds Ion exchange

Reverse osmosis
 Screens
▪ Coarse screens (6 to 150 mm)
▪ Fine screens (<6 mm)
▪ Flow velocity should not exceed
1m/s, design velocity-0.3m/s
▪ Head loss less than 0.1m, It
depends on the degree of clogging https://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00bOjtYapzqTkc/Fine-Coarse-
Rotary-Rake-Screen-Ss304-for-Wastewater-Sewage-Treatment.jpg

▪ Solids removed depends on screen

opening size
▪ Disposal practices: sanitary landfill,
grinding and returning to the
wastewater flow and incineration

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 Comminutor

▪ It is a shredding device to break or cut up solids to approximately

8mm in size located across the flow path and ahead of pumping
facilities
 Grit chamber
▪ Removes sand, gravel and other heavy solid materials
▪ Protects mechanical equipment from abrasion and wear
▪ Reduces formation of deposits in area of low hydraulic shear
in pipelines, channels and sumps
Channel-type grit chamber
▪ Grit chambers follow type-1 settling
Aerated grit chambers
▪ Turbulence created by the injection of compressed air keeps
lighter organic material in suspension while the heavier grit
falls to the bottom
CHANNEL-TYPE GRIT AERATED GRIT
CHAMBER CHAMBERS
 Equalization tank
▪ Damping of flowrate variations to achieve constant flowrate
▪ In-line or Off-line equalization

Primary sedimentation tank

▪ Removes readily settleable solids and floating materials

▪ TSS reduction – 50 to 60%
▪ BOD reduction – 25 to 40%
▪ Organic material is slightly heavier than water and it settle
slowly (1 to 2.5m/s) to the bottom of tank under
gravitational force
▪ Follows Type-2 settling
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(Pearson education, Inc, 2011)

 Secondary Treatment
▪ Removal of dissolved organics and remaining 40-50%
suspended solids (which are not removed in primary
treatment)

▪ Biological processes are commonly used as secondary

treatment to remove organics

▪ Biological Process is the process which decomposition of

organic matter using microorganism into acceptable end
products
 Different Types of Microorganisms
▪ Carbon sources: Autotrophs-CO2 from Atmosphere or
Bicarbonates
Heterotrophs- Carbon from organic matter
▪ Energy sources: Phototrophs-Sunlight
Chemotrophs-derive energy from chemical
reaction
▪ Temperature: Psychrophilic -15 to 30oC
Mesophilic- 30 to 45oC
Thermophilic-45 to 70oC
▪ Oxygen Requirement: Aerobic (Aerobes)- Presence of O2
Anaerobic (Anaerobes) - Absence of O2
Facultative- work in both condition

Chemoheterotrophs microorganisms are mostly used in Biological

Treatment
MICROBIAL GROWTH CURVE
▪ LAG PHASE:
The phase in which microorganism get acclimated to the
surrounding environment and to the food provided
▪ LOG PHASE:
Maximum growth of microorganism occurs at a logarithmic rate
▪ STATIONARY PHASE:
Nutrients get depleted, microorganism unable to obtain food from
external sources, toxic metabolite accumulation growth and death
become equal
▪ ENDOGENOUS PHASE :
Cells undergo endogenous respiration, A stage in which living
organisms oxidize some of their own cellular mass
 MICROBIAL GROWTH IN LOG-GROWTH PHASE
▪ Bacterial Cells reproduce by binary fission- divided into two new
independent cells
▪ Regeneration time
➢ time required for a cell to mature and separate
➢ depends on environmental factors and food supply
➢ Around 20 min
▪ Rate of reproduction is exponential
▪ Number of organisms produced (N)=2n-1
where, n= regeneration time
▪ Specific growth rate(𝝁)
1 𝑑𝑋
𝜇= ×
𝑋 𝑑𝑡
X = concentration of biomass, mg/L
𝑑𝑋
= growth rate of the biomass mg/L-t
𝑑𝑡

µ = Specific growth rate of bacteria

 MONOD EQUATION
▪ It is a kinetic model which describes microbial growth as a functional
relationship between the specific growth rate and substrate concentration
𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆
𝜇=
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆
Where µ = Specific growth rate of bacteria
µmax = Maximum value of specific growth rate

S = Concentration of limiting substrate or nutrients

Ks = Half-Saturation constant, equal to the concentration of substrate

giving growth rate of µmax/2

▪ Yield Coefficient( Y): Amount biomass produced per unit substrate utilized
Y=dX/dS
Where, dX =change in the biomass concentration
dS=change in the substrate concentration
▪ Specific substrate utilization rate( q):

1 𝑑𝑆
𝑞=
𝑋 𝑑𝑡

▪ Decay coefficient (kd)

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆
𝜇= − 𝑘𝑑
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆

𝜇 = 𝑌𝑇 𝑞 − 𝑘𝑑

𝜇=𝑌𝑜𝑏𝑠 𝑞

YT – True yield or Theoretical yield coefficient

Yobs – Observed yield coefficient
 FACTORS AFFECTING MICROBIAL GROWTH
▪ Temperature
➢ Rate constants increase with increasing temperatures within the range
of 0 to 55oC ,with a corresponding increase in biomass production and
food utilization
➢ Excessive heat denatured the enzymes and destroy the organism
▪ pH
➢ Microorganisms that degrade wastewater organics function best near
neutral pH
▪ Toxicants
➢ poison the microorganism
▪ Salt concentration
➢ interfere with internal-external pressure relationship
▪ Oxidants
➢ destroy enzyme and cell materials
 BASIS OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESS IN WASTE WATER
▪ Microorganism utilize the organic matter in the waste water as food
and convert it into stable products (CO2,H2O,CH4 etc) and new cells

▪ New cells know as biomass which gradually settle down as sludge in the
system

▪ Involved two distinct metabolic phases – Catabolism (respiration)

Anabolism (Synthesis)

➢Catabolism- Oxidized organic matter, nutrients etc. and produced

energy

➢Anabolism- Using that energy new cells are synthesis

 DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL
TREATMENT PROCESS
▪ Two types- Attached growth and Suspended growth systems

▪ Suspended growth system

➢ Microorganisms are maintained in suspension within the wastewater

either as single cells or as clusters of cells called flocs.

▪ Attached growth system

➢ Microorganisms are attached(adhered) to some inert media such as rocks,

slog or specially designed ceramic or plastic materials.

➢ During biological process wastewater contacted with this microbial films

attached to surfaces of media
 Suspended growth Attached growth

Aerobic Process • Activated Sludge • Trickling filters

Process • Rotating
• Aerated lagoons biological
• SBR (Sequencing contactors
batch reactor)
• Oxidation ditch

Anaerobic Process • UASB(Up flow • Anaerobic filters

anaerobic sludge
blanket)
• Anaerobic
digesters
 ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS(ASP)
▪ The most conventional unit for the aerobic biological treatment of
wastewater
▪ Two Parts- Aeration tank and Secondary sedimentation tank(SST)
▪ Aeration Tank- where organic matter stabilized by the action of
bacteria under aeration
▪ SST-where the sludge(biological cell mass) is separated from the
effluent of aeration tank and the settle sludge (25 to 50 %) is
recycled partly to the aeration tank and remaining wasted
▪ Aeration conditions are achieved by use of diffused or mechanical
aerators
▪ Diffuser-Provided at the tank bottom
▪ Mechanical aerators- Provided at the surface of water(either
floating or fixed)
▪ Design parameters- Aeration period, BOD loading, MLSS, Food-to-
microorganism ratio(F/M), SRT etc
 ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS(ASP)

Qo, So, Xo Qo+Qr

Q-Qw,
X, S
V, X, S Xe, S
Qr, Xu
Qu, Xu

Qw, Xu
 Design assumptions

▪ The influent and effluent biomass concentrations are

negligible compared to biomass at other points in the
system

▪ The influent food concentration So is immediately diluted to

the reactor concentration S because of the complete-mix
regime

▪ All reactions occur in the aeration tank

▪ Mass balance for biomass in the system,
Biomass in + Biomass growth = Biomass out(Effluent +Wasted sludge)

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
𝑄0 𝑋0 + 𝑉 − 𝑘𝑑 𝑋 = 𝑄0 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑢
𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
𝑉 − 𝑘𝑑 𝑋 =𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑢
𝐾𝑠 +𝑆

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑢
= + 𝑘𝑑
𝐾𝑠 +𝑆 𝑉𝑋
▪ Mass balance for food
Food in – Food consumed = Food out

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
𝑄0 𝑆0 − 𝑉 = 𝑄0 − 𝑄𝑤 𝑆 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑆
𝑌(𝐾𝑠 + 𝑆)

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑋
𝑉 =𝑄0 (𝑆0 −𝑆)
𝑌(𝐾𝑠 +𝑆)

𝜇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑆 𝑄0 𝑌
= (𝑆0 −𝑆)
𝐾𝑠 +𝑆 𝑉𝑋

Hydraulic retention time, = V/Qo

Biological Solid Retention Time, c = VX/QwXu
 SST
Diffuser Surface
Aerators
 DESIGN CRETERIA FOR ASP
1) Volumetric Organic Loading Rates(OLR)-(BOD Loading)
VL = (Q*S0)/V
where, Q=Flow rate (m3/day)
S0=Influent BOD5 to aeration tank(mg/L)
V=volume of aeration tank (m3)
The mass of BOD (Kg) in the influent (without including the return sludge)
per unit volume of the reactor(aeration tank) per day
2) Food-to-Mass(Microorganism) Ratio (F/M)
F/M=Q(S0-S)/VX
where, Q=Flow rate (m3/day)
S0=Influent BOD5 to aeration tank(mg/L)
S= BOD5 in the reactor (aeration tank) (mg/L)
V=volume of aeration tank (m3)
X=MLVSS (Mixed liquor (liquid) volatile suspended
solids (mg/L)
3) Biological solid retention time (BSRT)(𝜃𝑐)
𝐾𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝐿𝑉𝑆𝑆 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘
𝜃𝑐 =
𝐾𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑆𝑆 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑+𝐾𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑆𝑆 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑉𝑋
=
𝑄𝑊𝑋𝑈
Assume kg of VSS in effluent=0
where, V=volume of aeration tank
X=Biomass concentration in reactor
𝑄𝑊 = flow rate of waste sludge
𝑋𝑈 = biomass concentration in waste
sludge
▪ BSRT is the duration for microorganism stays in the aeration
tank
4) Sludge Volume Index (SVI)
𝑚𝐿 Settled sludge volume(mL/L)∗ 1000
𝑆𝑉𝐼( ) =
𝑔 MLSS
▪ It the volume in mL occupied by 1g of activated sludge after
settling the aerated liquor for 30min,and therefore indicates
the settling characteristics of sludge in the aeration tank
▪ SVI value – Less- sludge is dense, good settling characteristics
- More-sludge is fluffy, poor settling characteristics

1 L of
Wastewater
Volume of
sludge
settled
 PONDS AND LAGOONS
▪ Suspended culture biological system
▪ A large shallow earthen basin(lined), which wastewater is retained long
enough for natural purification processes
▪ Ponds: some oxygen is supplied by diffusion from the air bulk of the
oxygen is provided by photosynthesis
▪ Lagoons: oxygen is provided by artificial aeration (mechanical aerators)
▪ Aerobic ponds:
➢shallow ponds
➢at all depth dissolved oxygen is available
➢used as polishing or tertiary pond
▪ Anaerobic ponds:
➢deep ponds
➢dissolved oxygen is absent except for a relatively thin surface
layer
➢used for partial treatment of strong organic wastewater (as
pretreatment)
▪ Facultative ponds:
➢both aerobic and anaerobic zones exist
➢used as total treatment system for municipal wastewater
PONDS AND LAGOONS
▪ Lagoons are classified as Aerobic lagoons and Facultative lagoons
(according to the degree of mechanical mixing)
▪ Aerobic lagoons:
➢Sufficient energy is supplied both to meet the oxygen requirement
and to keep the entire tank content mixed and aerated
▪ Facultative lagoons:
➢Energy input is only sufficient to transfer the amount of oxygen
required for biological treatment but is not sufficient to maintain the
solids in suspension
➢A portion of incoming solids will settle along with a portion of
biological solids produced from the conversion of the soluble organic
substrate
➢In time, settled solids will undergo anaerobic decomposition
➢Eventually facultative lagoons must be dewatered and the
accumulated solids are removed
FACULTATIVE LAGOONS
▪ Two zones- Aerobic, Anaerobic
▪ Upper Zone- Aerobic Zone
Aeration condition is achieved by
➢by oxygen generated by algae
➢by penetration of atmospheric oxygen (to a lesser extent)
➢Symbiotic relationship (mutually beneficial) between algae and
bacteria
➢Bacteria use O2 as e- acceptor
➢Oxidize organics in wastewater to end products such as CO2,NO3
and PO4
➢Algae use these compounds with sunlight as energy source and
produce oxygen as an end product. Produced O2 is used by bacteria
▪ The boundary between the aerobic and anaerobic zones
➢ Not stationary
➢aerobic zone can increases downward due to more mixing by
wind and more penetration by sunlight
➢Anaerobic zone can increases upward due to clam waters and
weak lighting
➢diurnal fluctuations in aerobic-anaerobic interface
▪ Lower zone- Anaerobic zone
➢Sludge along the bottom prevent oxygen transfer to that region
and anaerobic conditions prevail
➢In anaerobic zone - Organic acids, Gases, Products of
decomposition are foods for organisms in the aerobic zone
➢ Biological solids produced in the aerobic zone ,settle to bottom
where they die and providing food for the anaerobic organisms
 TRICKLING FILTERS
▪ Non-submerged fixed film biological reactor
▪ Attached culture biological system
▪ A reactor in which randomly packed solid (rock or plastic) provide
surface area for biofilm growth
▪ Sorption and biological oxidation are the primary means of food
removal
▪ Ideal filter packing:
➢ High specific surface area per unit volume
➢ Low in cost
➢ High durability
➢ High enough porosity
➢ Chemically resistant surfaces
➢ Hard
 PACKING MATERIALS

ROCK PLASTIC VERTICAL PLASTIC VERTICAL

FLOW FLOW

PLASTIC CROSS REDWOOD

FLOW HORIZONTAL RANDOM PACKED
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS IN TRICKLING FILTERS
 BIO-TOWERS
Advantages
➢Avoid plugging – due high
porosity and nature of
packing
➢Increase ventilation
minimizes odour problem
➢Less economical
Disadvantages
➢High pumping cost
➢Head loss through the deep
bed
 ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTORS (RBCs)

▪ The cylindrical plastic disks are attached to a horizontal shaft

and are provided at standard unit sizes of approx. 3.5 m in
diameter and 7.5 m in length
▪ The RBC unit is partially submerged in a tank containing the
wastewater
▪ As the RBC disks rotate out of the wastewater, aeration is
accomplished by exposure to the atmosphere
▪ Separate baffled basins are needed to develop the benefits
of a staged biological reactor design
 NUTRIENT REMOVAL
▪ Discharging of excess nutrient content wastewater causes
eutrophication in receiving water bodies
▪ Eutrophication is when a body of water becomes overly enriched
with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of
plants and algae. This process may result in oxygen depletion of
the water body
▪ Nutrients most often interest are Nitrogen and Phosphorus
compounds
NUTRIENT REMOVAL OPTIONS
Nitrification and
Denitrification
(Biological method)

Nitrogen
Removal Air stripping
(physico-chemical
process)
Biological phosphorus
removal
Phosphorus
Removal
Chemical phosphorus
removal
 AIR STRIPPING
▪ Dissolved ammonium is converted to
gaseous phase and then dispersed in
air, thus allowing transfer of the
ammonia from wastewater to the air.
▪ pH must be greater than 11 for
complete conversion to NH3

▪ The gaseous phase NH3 and aqueous

phase NH4+ exist together in
equilibrium controlled by the pH and
the temperature
NH4+ + OH- = NH3 +2H20
AIR STRIPPING
 NITROGEN REMOVAL
▪ nitrogen in form of organic nitrogen and ammonia
▪ two step process- nitrification and Denitrification
Nitrification
➢The conversion of ammonium to nitrate through nitrite by
autotrophic bacteria such as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter in
aerobic environment
Denitrification
➢The reduction of nitrate into nitrogen gas by facultative
heterotrophic bacteria in anoxic environment
➢In anoxic environment, bacteria use the oxygen attached to the
nitrogen in form of nitrate(electron acceptor) and where as a
carbon-source(such as methanol) may be additional
 Nitrification
▪ Chemoautotrophic bacteria

𝑁𝐻4 + ↔ 𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐻 +

𝑁𝐻4 + + 1.5𝑂2 → 𝑁𝑂2 − + 2𝐻 + + 𝐻2 𝑂 ………. Nitrosomonas

𝑁𝑂2 − +0.5𝑂2 → 𝑁𝑂3 − ………………………………… Nitrobacter

Amount of oxygen consumed

Amount of alkalinity consumed

 Denitrification
▪ Chemoheterotrophic bacteria under anoxic conditions

− 5 1 5 7
𝑁𝑂3 + 𝐶𝐻3 𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁2 + 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑂𝐻 −
6 2 6 6

Alkalinity produced=
Methanol required=
 Phosphorus removal
▪ Phosphorus forms include organic phosphorus, polyphosphates and
orthophosphates.
▪ Principal form of phosphorus in wastewater is assumed to be
orthophosphates.
▪ Orthophosphates consist of negative radicals PO43- , HPO42- , H2PO4-

Principal means of phosphorus removal is chemical precipitation

Al3+ + (HnPO4)(3-n)- → AlPO4 ↓ + nH+
Fe3+ + (HnPO4)(3-n)- → FePO4 ↓ + nH+

▪ Iron and aluminium salts can be added to precipitate phosphate

out
▪ Phosphorus removal can be incorporated into primary or
secondary treatment or may be added as a tertiary treatment.
 Sludge treatment
▪ Sludge represents concentration of solids, impurities and other objectionable materials
and must be disposed of properly. Basic concept is Volume reduction.

Sludge Thickening

Gravity thickeners are commonly used and

they are very similar to secondary clarifiers
used in suspended growth systems.
• Tanks are generally deeper to provide
better thickening capacity.
• Well designed gravity thickener doubles the
content of solids in the sludge (thereby
reducing half the volume.

Field scale gravity thickener

 Sludge Thickening

▪ Gravity
▪ Floatation
▪ Centrifugation
▪ Rotary drum
▪ Gravity Belt
 Dewatering

▪ Centrifuges
▪ Vacuum filters
▪ Belt filters
▪ Filter press
 Floatation system
▪ The thickened sludge is skimmed off at the top of the tank while the liquid is removed
near the bottom and is returned to the aerator.

Dissolved air floatation system for

DAF system
thickening activated sludge
 Sludge digestion
Common means of stabilizing sludge is by biological degradation.
▪ Sludge digestion reduce the volume of the thickened sludge as well as render solids inert.

✓ Anaerobic decomposition
produces less biomass than
aerobic processes.
✓ This decomposition is carried by
two groups of microbes acid
formers and methane formers.
✓ Acid formers solubilize the organic
solids through hydrolysis.
✓ Methane formers convert acids
and alcohols along with hydrogen
and carbon dioxide to methane.

Pathway of anaerobic digestion

 Anaerobic digester
Standard Rate Anaerobic Digester

▪ Typical standard rate anaerobic

digester consist of single stage
operation.
▪ Sludge is fed into the digester on an
intermittent basis and the supernatant
is withdrawn and returned to the
secondary treatment unit.
▪ Digested sludge accumulates in the
bottom.

V = Volume of the digester (m3)

V1 = raw sludge loading rate (m3/d)
V2 = digested sludge accumulation rate (m3/d)
t1 = digestion period, d
Standard rate anaerobic digester
t2 = digested sludge storage period, d
 High rate digester

▪ High rate digesters are more efficient and

requires less volume than single stage
digesters.
▪ Contents are mechanically mixed to ensure
better contact between organics and
microbes.

High rate, two stage anaerobic sludge

digester
Sludge disposal
Wastewater disposal
Land disposal
Infiltration

▪ Percolation to groundwater
▪ Recovery of water by underdrains or wells.
▪ Temporary storage of treated water.
▪ Easy and economical, also not constrained
by seasonal changes.