Biological Processes for

Environmental Engineering

Week 3

Suspended Growth Biological

Treatment Process

Presented by Nguyen Thi Hoang Hai

Outline
1. Introduction to the activated sludge process
2. Wastewater characterization

2
1. Introduction to the activated sludge process
▪ The activated sludge process is now used routinely for the biological
treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters.
▪ The early 1880s in England, Dr. Angus Smith investigated the
aeration of wastewater in tanks, which hastened the oxidation of the
organic matter.
▪ In 1910 Black and Phelps reported that a considerable reduction in
putrescibility could be secured by forcing air into wastewater in basins
▪ During 1912 and 1913, Clark and Gage found that growths of
organisms greatly increased the degree of purification obtained
▪ In 1994, Ardern and Lockett found that the sludge played an
important part in the results obtained by aeration.
3
1. Introduction to the activated sludge process
▪ The process was named activated sludge by Ardern and Lockett
because it involved the production of an activated mass of
microorganisms capable of aerobic stabilization of organic material in
wastewater.

4
1. Introduction to the activated sludge process
Basic Process Description

Plug-Flow
Process

Complete-Mix
Process

Sequencing Batch
Process

5
2. Wastewater characterization
▪ COD Fractions

6
7
8
▪ Nitrogenous Constituents

9
10
▪ Nonbiodegradable Volatile Suspended Solids.

11
12
2. Wastewater characterization

13
14
15
Oxygen-Transfer from gas to liquid phase

16
Example

17
Food-to-Microorganism Ratio

18
Mixed-Liquor Suspended Solids, the SVI, and the
Recycle Ratio

19
Sludge Volume Index (SVI)
▪ The SVI test is used to monitor any changes in mixed liquor properties as a function
of operational, influent wastewater, or seasonal temperature changes. Lower SVI
values are normally associated with more rapid thickening and more efficient
clarifier performance. The SVI is the volume occupied by 1 g of sludge
after 30 min of settling, expressed in milliliters per gram (mL/g).
The SVI is determined by placing a mixed-liquor sample in a 1- to 2-L cylinder and
measuring the settled volume after 30 min and the corresponding sample MLSS
concentration. The numerical value is computed using the following expression:

A value of 100 mL/g is considered a good settling sludge (SVI values below 120
are desired).
20
Diffused Aeration Systems

21
22
Mechanical Aeration Systems
▪ Mechanical aerators are generally grouped into four
different types: radial-flow low speed, axial-flow high-
speed, horizontal rotors, and aspirating devices.
▪ Radial-flow low-speed aerators are the ones generally
used in aeration tanks with activated slud.ge. They have
large turbine blades that operate typically at 20 to 100
rotations per minute.

23
Mechanical Aeration Systems

24
Activated Sludge Design and Analysis

25