2022-2023 | 2º semester

Engenharia de Sistemas de Tratamento II

Treatment Systems Engineering II
Class TP #3 | 27-Feb-2023

Activated sludge

Flávio Silva / Isabel Capela

1
 Biological treatment

goal:
➢ Removal of non-sedimentable suspended solids
➢ Removal of soluble compounds (removal of soluble
organic compounds and some forms of nitrogen and
phosphorus)
➢ Stabilization of organic matter

The biological processes for removal of

carbonaceous matter can be divided into
2 main groups

1. Aerobic systems (oxygen – electron acceptor)

2. Anaerobic systems (organic/CO2 – electron acceptor)

2
 Typical treatment plant (WWTP)

sieves Shredder

grit removal
excess sludge dehydrated sludge

primary
settling
Biological Digester Dehydration unit
Treatment
thickener

biological sludge

Final
clarifier River
Secondary treatment
3
Typical treatment plant (WWTP)

Pre-treatment
Primary
Secondary
treatment Terciary
treatment
treatment

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ACTIVATED SLUDGE
❑ The activated sludge process is an aerobic process.
❑ characterized by:
✓Artificial aeration through systems for forced introduction of
oxygen into wastewater
✓Contact between organic matter in wastewater and
microorganisms responsible for the process of oxidation of
organic matter (biological flocs suspended in wastewater)

❑ The biological flocs (activated sludge) are biologically

active masses resulting from flocculation processes of
organic and inorganic colloidal particles and living cells
(mainly bacteria and some protozoa).

5
 Biochemical mechanisms
Biochemical processes occur in two phases:
➢ Synthesis of cellular material from the initial organic fraction
and nutrients (N and P).
The necessary energy is obtained by oxidation reactions of
organic matter, giving rise to the final products.
➢ autoxidation (respiration or endogenous metabolism) of
cellular material.

The end products of decomposition are:

✓new cells
✓end-products of decomposition (CO2, NO3, SO4)
✓organic waste consisting mainly of organic compounds that
are difficult to biodegrade (recalcitrant, slowly-biodegradable)
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 Biochemical mechanisms
Biochemical processes occur in two phases:
➢ Synthesis of cellular material from the initial organic fraction
and nutrients (N and P).
The necessary energy is obtained by oxidation reactions of
organic matter, giving rise to the final products.
➢ autoxidation (respiration or endogenous metabolism) of
cellular material.

The end products of decomposition are:

✓new cells
✓end-products of decomposition (CO2, NO3, SO4)
✓organic waste consisting mainly of organic compounds that
are difficult to biodegrade (recalcitrant, slowly-biodegradable)
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COD balance in aerobic biodegradation

The reactions of the metabolic process are:

- oxidation of organic matter
- synthesis of cellular material
- oxidation of cellular material

Biomass

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Activated sludge process
The activated sludge process applies to:
Wastewater previously submitted to operations of
pre-treatment and primary decanting
or, in some cases,
Wastewater previously submitted only to operations of pre-
treatment

The flocs, particles and microorganisms in the flocculation

process are kept in suspension in liquid to prevent
creation of anaerobic zones in the deeper layers of the
aeration tank.

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Activated sludge system
The activated sludge process consists of a
Biological reactor or aeration tank
and a
solid/liquid separator

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Activated sludge process

Inside the aeration tank conditions are established to:

• Fast development of aerobic microorganisms
• Flocculation of suspended material

The effluent from the aeration tank effluent consists of:

-liquid phase with non-biodegradable organic content
-solid phase made from organic flocs

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 Microbiology
Biotic component of the process

❑ Decomposers or primary producers

Bacteria and fungi → obtain energy directly from dissolved organic

matter

❑ Consumers or predators
Heterotrophic flagellates
feed on bacteria
Ciliated protozoa and other
Metazoa (Rotifers and nematodes) organisms

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 Microbiology
Biomass composition in the activated sludge

●
95% Bacteria
5% other organisms: Protozoa, Invertebrates, Rotifers

●
●
0.5-3µm 30 - 80µm 100 - 500µm

Bacteria Protozoa Rotifers

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Pseudomonas sp. Vorticella Convallaria Lecane sp.
Biological flocs

loss
➢ Various floc-forming bacteria
➢ Organic polymers produced by bacteria (gelatinous extra-
cellular material)
– Allows the activity of extra-cellular enzymes
– Facilitates the union of single cells to form larger aggregates until they form flocs

➢ Incorporation of inorganic particles that improve

sedimentation
➢ Can incorporate filamentous microorganisms
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Formation of biological flocs

The biological flocs (activated sludge) are masses

biologically active resulting from flocculation processes of
organic and inorganic colloidal particles and living cells
(mainly bacteria and some protozoa).
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Formation of biological flocs
Non-settleable VSS
= Biomass wash-out

Biological sludge has poor sedimentation

characteristics:
solids do not settle and are
discharged into the clarified from the
settler, not meeting discharge criteria

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Activated sludge process – hydraulic regime

CSTR PFR

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Oxygen provision
For economic reasons, normally
pure oxygen is not used, but
atmospheric oxygen.
Providing of such oxygen is called
aeration

The aeration system has the following purposes:

✓ Promote the dissolution of atmospheric oxygen in the

liquid, necessary for the metabolic activity of microorganisms,
besides ensuring a minimum of 1.5 mg/L of dissolved oxygen.
✓ Keep the biological flocs in suspension and to
homogenize, by means of agitation, the contents of the tank,
avoiding the sedimentation of the flocs and the creation of
dead zones.
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Sludge return/recirculation
❑ Keep the system in equilibrium in
order to obtain easily settleable
sludge.

❑ This equilibrium is reached for certain

values ​of
F/M ratio (food/microorganisms)
and the settled sludge are recirculated
in a quantity to meet the F/M ratio
requirements.

❑ Sludge recirculation also accelerates

the flocculation process of the
particles suspended in the liquid, due
to the introduction of flocculation
nuclei, i.e. the biological flocs.
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Excess sludge

Established the equilibrium of the system for a given

value of the F/M ratio

The daily sludge produced constitutes the

excess sludge
that has to be extracted from the system and subjected
to appropriate treatment

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Classification of systems
F/M ratio

1.High rate or rapid aeration systems

➢ Characterized by:
- High values ​of the F/M ratio
- Low permanence periods ​of microorganisms and wastewater to be
treated (short residence times)

➢ Results in:
- High rates of organic matter removal , synthesis of microorganisms
and oxygen consumption
- Great sludge production
- Low oxygen consumption per unit of organic matter removed

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 Classification of systems
F/M ratio

2. Medium rate systems or conventional aeration

➢ Characterized by:
- Average values ​of the F/M ratio

➢ Results in:
- scarcity of available nutrients, which limits the growth of
microorganisms
- average values ​of oxygen consumption rate
- average sludge production
- average oxygen consumption per unit of organic matter eliminated

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Classification of systems
F/M ratio

3. Low rate systems or extended aeration

➢ Characterized by:
- Very low values ​of the F/M ratio
- Permanence of microorganisms and residual water for a long
period (long residence times)

➢ Results in:
- lack of substrate and autoxidation of microorganisms
- low values ​of oxygen consumption rate
- sludge production is reduced to a minimum
- high consumption of oxygen per unit of organic matter eliminated

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Oxidation ditch

Low rate or
extended
aeration
system

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Characteristic/design parameters for the
AS (activated sludge) system
1. Total matter in suspension
Total suspended solids in AT bulk (MLSS)

2. Volatile matter in suspension

Volatile solids suspended in AT bulk (MLVSS)

3. Organic load
This parameter configures the F/M ratio (kg BOD applied to the
system per day and per unit mass of volatile suspended solids in
the AT) (kg BOD kg-1 MLVSS . d-1)

4. Volumetric load
(kg BOD applied to the system per day and per TA volume)
(kg BOD m-3 . d-1)

AT = aeration tank 25
Characteristic/design parameters for the
AS (activated sludge) system
5. Mohlman Index (MI) → SVI
Settling period: 30 minutes
Measures of the quality of the sludge formed in the AT by their
sedimentation ability

6. Recirculation (Qr)
Recirculation flow is the sludge flow recirculated
The return sludge concentration is the concentration of sludge in the
recirculation stream

7. Sludge age – Solids retention time (SRT)

Represents the average residence time in the system of solid particles in
suspension

8. Oxygen demand
It is necessary to supply oxygen to the microorganisms, through the
aeration system, necessary for:
- synthesis of cellular material
- endogenous respiration 26
Characteristic/design parameters for the
AS (activated sludge) system
9. Excess sludge
Excess sludge produced in the system results from two processes:
-Synthesis of new cells due to the assimilation of organic matter
from wastewater
- Reduction of the amount of microorganisms due to the process
of autoxidation when they are under endogenous phase.

In addition to these two parts, the following should also be considered:

-inorganic fraction of suspended solids contained in the
wastewater flowing into the AT
-slowly biodegradable organic fraction of volatile suspended
solids in the wastewater flowing into the AT

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 Design
Flows definition

Q0S0X0 QeSeXe

VX

QrSrXr QwSwXw
V = Volume of the aeration tank (m3)
Q0= Influent flow rate (m3/h)
Qe = Effluent flow rate (m3/h)
Qr= Sludge recirculation flow rate (m3/h)
Qw= Waste sludge flow rate (m3/H)
S0 = Substrate concentration in the influent (kg BOD5/m3)
Se = Substrate concentration in the effluent (kg BOD5/m3)
Sr = Substrate concentration in the sludge recirculation (kg BOD5/m3)
Sw= Substrate concentration in the waste sludge (kg BOD5/m3)
X0 = concentration of microorganismsi n the influent (kg VSS/m3)
X = VSS concentration in the aeration tank (kg VSS/m3)
Xe = VSS concentration in the effluent (kg VSS/m3)
Xr = VSS concentration in the sludge recirculation (kg VSS/m3)
Xw= VSS concentration in the waste sludge (kg VSS/m3) 28
Design
Hydraulic retention
time (HRT = )
“ Time it takes an influent volume differential
element to leave the tank (at steady state)”

V
 = t (hours)
Q0

Q0

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Design
Solids retention time
(SRT)

“Permanence time of microorganisms in the

system before leaving”
𝑉𝑋
𝑆𝑅𝑇 = t (days)
𝑄𝑒 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤

Qe
VX Xe

QwXw 30
Operating control

𝑉𝑋
𝑆𝑅𝑇 =
𝑄𝑒 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤

Q0S0 Se

QrSr Qwsw
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Biomass mass balance

Accumulation = inflow – outflow + net growth

0 (steady-state)

rg = net rate of biomass

production (g VSS/m3.d)
Kd = specific endogenous decay coefficient (g
VSS/g VSS.d)

Y = synthesis yield coefficient (gVSS/g

bsCOD)
ru= substrate
utilization rate

= 1/SRT

→ 32
Biomass mass balance

𝑉𝑋 SRT is not a function of substrate

𝑆𝑅𝑇 = concentration in the wastewater and
𝑄𝑒 𝑋𝑒 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑋𝑤 should be controlled by wasting
sludge

Biomass concentration is a function

of SRT and HRT

SRT is inverse of the average specific

growth rate
→ process biokinetics is controlled
by SRT

M&E 2014 – Chapter 7-6

Remarks - in M&E 2014
Kd = b
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ru = rsu
Substrate mass balance
needed to determine the effluent substrate concentration as a
function of the reactor influent feed and operating conditions

Accumulation = inflow – outflow + generation - utilization

0 (steady-state)

Empirical, saturation-type
model (Michaelis-Menten)

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Substrate mass balance
Replacing ru…

Replacing X and solving for S…

= max

• only function of SRT and growth/decay kinetics

• not related to S0
• but affects biomass concentration

• if no sludge recirculation
→SRT = VX/QX = HRT
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Operating control

SRT<SRTmin

“washout” of the
reactor

SRTmin 36
Design
↔

❑Selection of an adequate value of X is crucial:

➢ an excessively low value will impact process yield

➢ one excessively high value will give problems:
-oxygen transfer limitations at the system
-elimination of solids in the decanter
❑ Washout of solids from the settler (clarified) can be due to:
➢ An excessive solids load in the secondary decanter (kg SS/m2h).
➢ A decrease in settleability of biological flocs formed (Ideal SVI
<100mL/g))

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Design

❑ The values ​of kinetic parameters will mainly depend on:

➢ Nature of wastewater (type of organic matter)
➢ Type of activated sludge system (high, medium or low rate)
➢ Temperature
❑ The values ​of the kinetic parameters can be obtained:
➢ Experimentally
➢ From literature

KT = KTo (T −T0 )

M&E 2013
38
Design Criteria M&E 2013

High
rate

Medium
rate

Low
rate

39
Design
M&E 2013, sludge production
Chapter 8-5

QY (S0 − S ) f d  K d  QY (S0 − S )TRS

PX ,VSS = + + Q(nbVSS )
1 + Kd  TRS 1 + K d  TRS
(A) (B) (D)
Non-
heterotrophic biomass cellular debris
biodegradable
VSS in the
influent
+ D + Q(TSS0 − VSS0 )
A B
PX ,TSS = +
0,85 0,85
(AND)
iTSS in the
influent

TSS0= TSS concentration in the influent

VSS0= VSS in the influente
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Design
Oxygen requirements

R0 = Q(S0 − S ) − 1,42PX ,bio

Where:
R0= total oxygen required
PX, bio= Excess biomass as VSS (parts A and B)

41
Design
Mass balance to the settler

42
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)

43
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
Design conditions:

➢ Use the kinetic coefficients from table 8-14

➢ The design temperature is 12°C

➢ For the project consider MLSS concentration

XTSS= 3000 g/m3(values ​between 2000 and 3000 g/m3 can be

assumed)

➢ Concentration of dissolved oxygen in the aeration tank = 2.0

g/m3

➢ SRT for organic matter removal = 5 days

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Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
1. Determine the wastewater characteristics required for design:
➢ compute bCOD

➢ compute nbCOD

➢ compute nbsCODe (in treated effluent)

➢ compute nbVSS

45
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
1. Determine the wastewater characteristics required for design:
➢ compute iTSS

46
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
2. Determine the biomass production, PX, VSS

QY (S0 − S ) f d  K d  QY (S0 − S )TRS

PX ,VSS = + + Q(nbVSS )
1 + Kd  TRS 1 + K d  TRS
➢Determine S

= max
KT = KTo (T −T0 )
S = 0.7 g bCOD/m3
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PX,bio = 1688.5 kg VSS/d
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
3. Determine the mass in terms of VSS and TSS in the
aeration tank
➢ Determine the production of solids PX, VSS and PX,TSS

+ D + Q(TSS0 − VSS0 )
A B
PX ,TSS = +
0,85 0,85

PX, VSS = 2142.5 kg VSS/d

PX,TSS = 2667.5 kg TSS/d

48
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)

➢ Calculate the mass of VSS and TSS in the aeration tank

▪ Mass of VSS

(XVSS)(V) = (PX, VSS) TRS

(XVSS)(V)= 10712 kg VSS

▪ TSS mass

(XTSS)(V) = (PX,TSS)TRS
(XTSS)(V)= 13337 kg TSS

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Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
4. Determine the aeration tank volume and hydraulic retention time

➢ Determine the volume of the aeration tank

(XTSS)(V) = 13337 kg TSS

3000 g/m3
V = 4445.7 m3

➢ Determine the hydraulic retention time

 = 4.7 h
➢ To determine MLVSS (XVSS)

XVSS= 2400 g/m3

50
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)
5. Determine the organic and volumetric loading rates

= OLR, CV

51
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)

6. Determine the observed yields based on TSS and

VSS

52
Exercise (M&E 2013 – 8.3 (Part A)

7. Calculate oxygen needs

R0 = Q(S0 − S ) − 1,42PX ,bio
R0= 120.5 kg/h

8. Calculate the area of(s)settler(es)

(next class)

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