SELECTORS

A selector is defined as the initial part of a biological reactor,characterized by a low

dispersion number and by an adequate macro-gradient of substrate concentration. It can also
be a small separate initial zone of a biological reactor which receives the influent and sludge
return flows and has a high readily biodegradable COD removal. In the selector the
microorganisms are subjected to high growth rate environments and are able to accumulate
substrate as internal storage products in their cells. A sufficiently long period without external
substrate available should then exist to re-establish the storage capacity of the cells.
Selectors were quickly installed in full-scale activated sludge systems and are still the most
applied engineering tool world-wide for the prevention of bulking sludge phenomena. The
selector could be aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic.
Aerobic selector : Energy is obtained from Oxidation of COD using O2
- Kinetic only
Advantages
 Simple process, no additional internal recycle streams other than RAS
 Relies on basin geometry, not nitrification
Disadvantages
 Does not reduce O2 requirements
 Requires more complex aeration system design to meet maximum O 2 uptake rate in
the initial high F/M zone
 May require patent fee if operated within a certain range of DO conditions

Anoxic selector : Energy is obtained from Oxidation of ammonia to NO3-

- Kinetic + ability to denitrify
Advantages
 Tends to buffer nitrification
 Lowers O2 demand in a nitrification process
 The initial high F/M region occurs in the anoxic zone with the high O 2 demand met by
NO3- instead of O2
Disadvantages
 Cannot be used with a process that does not nitrify
 Uses an additional recycle stream
 Requires care in design and operation to minimize the introduction of O 2 in the
anoxic zone. Poor system design could induce low DO bulking.
Anaerobic selector : Energy is obtained from Hydrolysis of stored poly-P to PO43-
- Kinetic+ ability to store polyphosphate
Advantages
  Simple design, no internal recycle other than RAS
 The simplest of selector systems to operate
 Can be used for biological phosphorus removal
Disadvantages
 A patented process and require a licensing fee
 Does not reduce O2 requirements
 May not be compatible with long SRTs
 Requires care in design and operation to minimize the introduction of NO 3- and O2 in
the anaerobic zone. Poor system design could induce low DO bulking
4)

A lot of equipment is used in biological treatment systems. These can be pipes, aerators,
pumps (like wastewater feed pump, vacuum pump and discharge pump ), sampling,
monitoring devices, air blowers, bioreactors, diffusers, stirring devices and airlifts, clarifiers,
air compressor, valves( like orifice supply valve, discharge valve).

We can give an example to the equipment used in biological treatment;

Screw Screens, Compact Plants, Grit Separators, Wastewater Screw Pumps, Liquid Separator,Tubular

Screw Conveyors, Other Screw Conveyors, Butterfly Valves, Batch-Type Single Shaft Mixers,Bin

Activators, Drop-Through Rotary Valves,Screw Screen, Fluid Dynamic Grit Classifier, Screenings

Washing and Compaction Units, Hydrodynamic Screws,Bulk Biomass Conveying System,Trough

Screw Conveyors, Micro-screw Feeders, SINT Slide Valves, Continuous Single Shaft Mixers, FIBC

Filling Systems, Tanker Loading Bellows, Vertical Screw Screens, Pre-Treatment Plant, Screw

Compactors, Bucket Elevators, Shaftless Spiral Conveyors, Screw Feeders, Flanged Round Dust

Collectors, Membrane Pressure Relief Valves, Dust Conditioners