LECTURE NOTES

LIQUID SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

By Dr. James Malusha - September 2020

Introduction
Provision of portable water supplies as a priority has led to reduction of incidences of gastro
enteric diseases associated with water. However, this success has to a degree obscured the fact
that increasing water supply also increases the problems of waste disposal with result increase of
incidences of gastro enteric diseases associated with water sanitation and hygiene. This has also
brought about conditions very conducive to other insect breeding e.g. mosquitoes. It therefore
becomes imperative that disposal method for this waste be designed and the criteria for selecting
a particular disposal system are;
a) Efficiency at the lower cost
b) Expectation for continuous functioning (durability) and not the sophistication of the
system.
WHAT ARE LIQUID WASTES?
Wastes, which basically consists of materials or substances or anything generated through
various processes and activities as either unwanted, discarded or of no use/re-use to the producer,
can be categorized into solid and liquid wastes. Liquid wastes is thus any form of liquid
unwanted or discarded or used that is potentially hazardous to life and environment, and may
contain organic and inorganic materials which could be either toxic or non-toxic. Liquid wastes
is a term given to all kinds of wastes removed from buildings by water and includes excreta,
urine, kitchen waste water, bath water and all other wastes discarded from building as useless.
The also include effluent from industries, factories, hospitals, washing facilities etc.
On the other hand liquid wastes management includes methods, procedures and practices at
every stage from generation to collection through to final disposal in order to prevent discharge
of pollutants to the storm drain systems, land or to water courses/water bodies. It also includes
continuous monitoring of quality of effluent and receiving water bodies.
Some concepts of liquid wastes management
1. Wastes are variably introduced to the environment due to day-to-day activities of
humans.

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2. All human body wastes is classified as liquid wastes and is bio-degradable.
3. Sewage is a mixture of human wastes and waste water, also known as black water
4. Sullage is water that has been used for washing in kitchens; bath rooms etc. and does not
include human wastes, also known as grey water.
5. Liquid wastes contain harmful substances and pathogens capable of causing diseases/ill
health
6. Wastes need to be managed properly in order to prevent contact with humans or to their
immediate environment
7. Thus main purpose is to isolate wastes from humans and environment or prevent
contamination/pollution, and consequently safeguard individual, family and community
health. In addition, the aesthetic value of a better clean environment is important for our
physical and emotional well-being.
SOURCES OF LIQUID WASTES
Waste water is generated from various sources including from buildings/dwelling houses,
toilets, bathrooms, public restrooms, hotels/restaurants, resorts, schools/colleges, places of
worship, hospitals and other institutions, etc. also include water from laundry, car garages
and cleaning centres, beauty salons, commercial kitchens, energy generation plants,
agricultural facilities, cleaning animal farms, and other enterprises using water for processing
and manufacturing activities. Other sources include industrial waste water, storm water,
water from general cleaning/washing activities and other forms of waste water from other
different sources.

Sources and classification of waste water

Following are the principal sources and classification of waste water
 Domestic
 Industrial
 Storm water
Domestic
It is the waste water from houses, offices, other buildings, hotels and institutions.
Industrial

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 It is the liquid waste from the industrial places from their different industrial processes like
dying, paper matting, tanneries, chemical industries, etc.
Storm Water
It includes surface runoff generated from rainfall and the street wash.

WHY TREAT WASTES?

The removal of wastes from human environment has for decades been due to its aesthetic
unpleasant nature especially of faecal matter , it has however been now realized and accepted
that proper disposal of waste go a long way towards improvement of health in that;
a) It removes the breeding sites of flies and other insect and vermin
b) It reduces gastro – enteric infections and other parasites
c) It reduces chances of soil and water contamination.
d) It eliminates nuisance of smell
e) It helps to promote health and well-being which are conducive to higher socio-
economic development
h) It helps to keep homes tidy and clean.
i) It converts some useless materials into useable staff.
j) Eliminates Unsightliness

k) Eliminates poisonous materials

Liquid waste

Domestic Industrial

Organic in organic

Main difference between organic and in organic;

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 - Organic can be broken down into simple compounds by biological means i.e.
Degradable biologically.
- In organic is non –degradable unless chemical means are applied.

Diseases brought by improper disposal of waste;

- Cholera, Typhoid, dysentery, schistosomiasis, Polio, Hepatitis e.tc.

Parasitism ; All parasites which require moisture in order to develop. E.g. Hookworms,
Ascariasis

The term waste includes liquids and solid waste from either domestic or other building
activities. Liquid waste is a term given to all kind of waste removed from a building by
water and includes excreta, urine , kitchen waste , bath water and all other waste decoded
form building as useless. This is also referred to as sewage.

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE OF LIQUID WASTES DISPOSAL

Improper and indiscriminate liquid wastes disposal leads to environmental/water
pollution as well as encourage the breeding of disease vector insects, and result in a
range of diseases through different routes of exposure and transmission.
Wastes contain pathogenic micr-organisms capable of causing disease eg cholera,
typhoid, schistosomiasis, salmonellosis, shigellosis, dysentery, helminthes, and
other diarrhoeal diseases etc. These may be may be transmitted to human beings
thus adversely affecting public health. Majority of diseases are attributed to
improper wastes management.

Wastes also pollute land and water thus adversely affecting ecosystem which is
important for life and survival. Plants and wildlife may die due to pollution of water
and environment. Contaminated water may also find their way to households further
endangering the lives of people. The unsightliness of wastes lowers the aesthetic
value of environment. It also interferes with emotional and socio-economic
wellbeing of the people which is unhealthy.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC & COMPOSITION OF SEWAGE

Daily per capita output of excreta is average of 80 gm of feaces and 1000gm of urine. When
discharged by water which dilutes it by between 30 and 100gm per day, the solid contents
remains very low and is expressed in Mg/litres or in parts per million ( ppm) by weight.

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 Thus expressed an average sewage contains about 99.9% of water and 0.1% of solids. These
solids are composed of 70% organic and 30% in organics.

RAW SEWAGE

WATER SOLIDS

Organic 70% in Organic 30%

Proteins Carbohydrates Fats 10% Grit Salt Metal

65% 25%

Sewage is composed of feaces and urine in water and /or sullage which is water from sinks, baths
e.t.c. It may also include liquid waste from industries and other institutions.
The contents or composition of sewage varies in accordance with and it depends on its source.

DOMESTIC SEWAGE
Is mainly composed of;
a) Organic matter in form of feaces and other animals and vegetable mater
b) Urine
c) Detergents e.g. soaps
d) Water

INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE
a) Organic matter especially from food industries e.g. breweries, cannery, coffee processing,
sisal processing e.t.c.
b) Inorganic matter e.g. metals, salts, acids e.t.c.
c) Radioactive wastes
d) Water

Constant characteristics of sewage that are easily determined are;

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Characteristic Raw sewage Sewage efficiency
PH X 6-9
Temperature X 20 C
Suspended solids X 30 mg/l
Alkalinity X X
Acidity X X
B. O. D X 20 mg/l
PU,COD,TOC X 125mg/l
Organic Nitrogen X X
Ammonia “ ” X X
Nitrite “ ” X X
Nitrate “ ” X 10
Phosphate X 2
Synthetic detergent X X

The concentrations of most of the above parameter determine the quality of the sewage. The
strength of sewage i.e. Concentration of organic matter in sewage is to determine by its BOD
(Biochemical O2 demand). This is the total amount of oxygen required to be used by the bacteria
when oxidizing organic matter and is expressed in Mg/ Litres. Since it is not possible to
measure the total oxygen required for it could take a lot of days at 200C and the values
obtained after five days taken as conclusion.
The following indicates BOD laws ;

Strength BOD mg/l

Weak < 200mg/l
Medium 200-350
Strong 350 -500
Very strong >500
The daily per capita of organic waste 30-50gm as B.O.D. about half of this being associated
with feaces and urine and the rest is sewage.

The significance of sewage to the environment is as follows

It may contain:
a) Disease causing germs e.g. Bacteria.
b) Poison agents that would kill life e.g. kill life e.g. Mercury
c) Poison that would cause genetic disturbance on animals and humans e.g. DDT.
d) Organics that would reduce O2 in water in some cases to an extent where water may
become devoid of any form of life.
e) Substances that may fertilize the water bodies to cause eutrophication( abnormal plant
growth or bloom)

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 f) Substances capable of changing colour , taste and smell of water bodies.
g) Substances that would attract flies and vermins
h) Substances with sewage potentiality.

ECOLOGY OF WASTE WATER

Microorganisms are considerable importance in aspects of water quality control. The
stabilization of organic matter is largely achieved by micro –organisms may be divided into
plants and animals although sometimes it becomes difficult to properly classify some
organisms.

PLANTS
Plants require suitable food which either may be organic or inorganic. The following, within the
plant kingdom, are very important in waste.

VIRUS
Presence of these is an indication of possible sewage pollution due to their size they are very
difficult to remove.

BACTERIA
These are single –celled organisms some types form resistance spores which lie dormant in
unsuitable environment conditions and to become reactivated when suitable conditions prevail.
Most bacteria are sensible to PH preferring more or less e.g. Sulphur bacteria can exist in highly
acidic environment. They are also sensitive to temperature changes and various species have
individual optimum growth temperatures. They may either be aerobic, anaerobic or facultative.
They are essential in waste stabilization and are also responsible for water-borne diseases.

FUNGI
These are mainly multi cellular plant which are more tolerant of acid conditions and a drier
environment that a bacteria. These are over 100 thousand different species.
They are found in biological treatment plants and in polluted rivers and they are responsible for
the taste and odour in water.

ALGAE
These are photosynthetic plant which are usually multi- cellular. They utilize CO2, NH3, PO4 etc,
to produce new cells and oxygen. In the absence of sunlight some species live in a
chemosynthetic metabolism in which case exert an O2 demand. The photosynthetic activity is
controlled by pigments which give algae its characteristic colours, e.g. blue-green, green, yellow-
green etc.

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Algae and bacteria growing in the same solution do not compete for food but operate in what is
known as synergistic reaction. In this reaction algae utilize end products which results from
bacterial decomposition of organic matter, and themselves produce O2 which helps to maintain
an aerobic condition in the absence of organic matter , Algae growth may only be
maintained by mineral contents in water , thus in hard water algae derives O2 from carbonates
reducing the hardness and usually increasing the PH. Algae are important in water in that they
affect the dissolved oxygen (DO) balance and also because of their property in producing
severe taste water problems.

SYMBIOTIC/SYNERGESTIC REACTION OF ALGAE AND BACTERIA

ANIMALS
Animals utilize organic foods only and cannot synthesize protoplasm from inorganic material
food is usually in solid form but some species can utilize high concentration of soluble
organics. All types require oxygen, although some can live in very dissolved oxygen records.

PROTOZOA
These are single – celled and live mainly by eating bacteria. A single protozoa can consume
mainly bacteria because of its large size and energy requirements. Protozoa cannot synthesize
all the essential trace elements and growth factors and must depend on bacterial food to provide
those items. They play an important role in biological waste treatment.

ROTIFERS
These are the simplest multicellular animal flexuous body and they have cilia on their head to
catch food and to provide motility.

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They are very sensitive to change in the environment and are thus a good indicator organism
predominating in stable conditions with high DO ( dissolved oxygen)

CRUSTACEANS
These are hard – shelled multi cellular animal with a flexious body inside its shell. They are
important fish food and can only be forced in stable conditions.

WORM & LARVAE

These are mainly found in bottom deposits where they are important scavengers.
They can metabolize organic s not readily broken down by other micro-organisms.

ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
In all communities of living organisms various forms of life are inter dependent to greater or
lesser extent. This interdependence is usually nutritional (referred to as trophic relationship) and
is exemplified by a cycle of organic productivity and the Carbon and Nitrogen cycle. This
biological community and the environment in which it is found from what is known as a
Ecosystem and the science of such system is known as ecology. Thus and ecosystem is defined
as a system where abietic environment and abiotic assemblage of plants, animals and microbes
exist in a balanced ecological system.

THE AUTOTROPHES
These are organisms capable of synthesizing their organic requirements from in organic
sources and can therefore grow independently of an extend source of organic matter e.g.
plants – in an ecosystem they are termed as producers.

HETEROTROPHIC ANIMALS
Organisms which require an external source of organic matter mainly animals and are known
as consumers since they consume readily made organic matter.

HETEROTROPHIC PLANTS
They are known as decomposers since they break down organic matter in dead plants and
animals and in animal excreta e.g. fungi. Some of the products of decomposition are utilized for
their own growth and energy requirements.

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EXEMPLIFIED VERSION OF CARBON CYCLE

Source of Water H2O

Energy
Carbon dioxide
In organic salts

Photosynthesis by green Respiration by animal

plants and bacteria

O2

Organics A normal Energy

AUTOTROPHIC
HETEROTROPHIC

In the above cycle solar radiation provides the only external energy and permits the synthesis
of Carbohydrates and other organic products which are then transferred to the heterotrophic
phase along with O2 resulting from photosynthesis in exchange CO2 , H2 and other inorganic
salts resulting from the activities of animal and bacteria are returned to the autotrophic in an
aquatic environment the interdependence of organisms takes the form of complex food web
within which are mainly food chains with successive links being composed of different
species in a predator – prey relationship with adjacent links. Thus a typical food chain for a
river would be as follows;

Algae rotifer May fly minnow Pike

Each successive link in the chain contains fewer but larger individual organisms and can be
pictured in the form of Eltonean pyramid of numbers as shown below;

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 A normal Energy

Pike

Minnow

May flies
1st Trophic level
Rotifers

Algae

Each level of the pyramid is known as a trophic level. Organisms occupying the same level
always complete for a common food but those on the higher level always compete for a common
food but those on higher level predate on the lower level.

Under the natural conditions an ecosystem can remain dynamically balanced for long
periods but changes in the water supply quality or other environmental factors can
completely upset the balance

A clean surface water will normally contain many different forms of life but since none will
be dominant the ecosystem is then balanced , but a serious organic pollution of water would
produce conditions unsuitable for most of the higher forms of life so that the community will
contain some very large numbers of lower forms of life due to lack of predators .

(Ref. principles of waste quality control by Tebutt Pub. By Fermegon)

OXYGEN DEMAND IN AEROBIC OXIDATION

It is important that the amount of organic matter present in sewage be known and that the
quantity of 02 required for its stabilization be determined .

Together with oxidationof organic matter more 02 is required during nitrification process by
nitrifying bacteria. The amount of 02 required to completely stabilize the waste could be
calculated on the basis of complete chemical analysis of the sample but this process is difficult
and time consuming.

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The COD determination using potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate gives the VOD
(ultimate oxygen demand). This combines BOD and oxygen required for oxidation of organic
matter. It therefor gives no indication as to whether th e matter being oxidized is organic or not
and at what rate 02 will be required in a biological process.

Due to this disadvantage waste strength is determined by BOD test which was developed by the
royal commission for sewage disposal at the turn of the century(1912)

Oxidation under aerobic condition proceeds stably and is not normally complete in the standard
of 5 days period of incubation . some organic matter like glucose is however fully oxidized in 5
days but some complex organic compounds might be only forty(40%) pecent oxidized . in case
however been accepted maximum oxidation takes place in the first 5 days of incubation at 20o c

So if the BOD curve were to be drwn it would tend to level up after 8-10 days due to increase of
nitofying bacteria the more oxygen would suddenly b erequired and the curve would start rising
again for the next 4 days.

Nitrification does not however exact a significant 02 demand though it is worth noting (this is
required to as NOD)

A TYPICAL BOD CURVE:

BOD
Nitrifying Oxygen Demand

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5 DAY
ANAEROBIC OXIDATION

With certain organic wastes e.g. sludges, slaughter house waste, coffee factory waste e.t.c.
oxygen requirement for aerobic oxidation would be so high that it becomes necessesary to result
into anaerobic process of stabilization despite of its lower efficiency and slow rate of reaction.
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The basic difference between aerobic and anaerobic system is that in aerobic process 02 becomes
the major hydrogen acceptor with a large release of energy while anaerobic reaction hydrogen
acceptor is confined to nitrates, sulphates or other various organic compounds resulting to much
lower energy release.

Due to this, complete organic matter stabilization is difficult to achieve anaerobically and so it
becomes necessary to retreat the waste aerobically to complete oxidation. Anaerobic oxidation is
a two stage reaction.

The first stage is carried out by acid forming bacteria which are very adaptable to environmental
conditions. The second stage is carried out by methane forming bacteria which are very sensitive
and can only operate within the P.H range of 6.5 -7.5 over production of acids by acid forming
bacteria result in low PH which stops methane formers reaction.

When this stage is reached there exists very unpleasant and odorous compounds. To rectify the
situation PH is corrected by addition of lime so that methane formers could start reacting fast.
Both bacteria prefer a warm environment with temperatures between 350 to 550c. Methane which
is produced is a useful fuel and is thus a viable by-product of sewage treatment.

AEROBIC
New Cells
Organic matter + Bacteria + 02
C02, NH3,

ANAEROBIC
New Cells
Organic Matter + Acid Bacteria New Cells
Alcohols + Methane Bacteria
& Acids C02, NH3,

SEWAGE TREATMENT

The strength and treatability of sewage varies from town to town as it depends on the nature of
the substances present and their toxicity towards micro-organisms. Most synthetic organic

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compounds present in trade waste are much more difficult to oxidize biologically than most
naturally occurring organic compound s.

Again metallic trade wastes though not affecting the strength of sewage since they have no
oxygen demand to greatly increase the difficult in treatment because of their toxicity. Another
factor affecting the strength treatability of sewage is the food habits of various communities. for
instance sewage from the community where a diet contains a higher portion of meat, fats and
other foods of high calorific value and where modern methods of food preparation are used tend
to have more grease character and hence a stronger and more difficult sewage to treat.

TREATMENT METHODS

To be able to select the most suitable treatment method it is very important to determine:

1. What is contained in sewage and requires to be removed (treatability)

2. Its strength in terms of B.O.D (BOD Load)
3. Total volume to be dealt with (quantity)
4. The final effluent disposal point e.g. size and characteristics of water body receiving the
final effluent
5. Cost of the treatment unity
6. Availability of suitable land
7. Efficiency of the proposed process under existing conditions e.g. climate
8. Involvement of maintenance i.e. skilled personal and spares
9. Salvage potentiality

The following methods are applied to remove various impurities

1. DISSOLVED ORGANICS:

a. Biological oxidation
b. Absorption on activated carbon

2. SUSPENDED SOLIDS:

a. Screening
b. Filtration
c. sedimentation

3. TOTAL SOLIDS:

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 a. Distillation
b. Reversed osmosis

4. NITROGEN COMPOUNDS:

a. Nitrofication
b. Air stripping of ammonia (ammonia stripping)
c. Ion exchange (by use of clinoptiloliote which is a natural material)
d. Denitrification which is by use of returned sludge in an anaerobic stage.

5. PHOSPHATES:

a. Precipitation with alum or lime

6. MICROORGANISMS:

a. Chorination
b. Storage
c. Ozone-especially to remove viruses

Depending on the composition of sewage one or more treatment process may become necessary
to provide a fully stabilized effluent for example with a demostic sewage, the physical process of
sedimentation can remove about 35% B.O.D and about 55% SS(Suspended Solids).

The use of chemical congulation process will remove another 15% BOD which is associated
with colloidal matter.

The above two combined treatment processes will remove about 50% BOD and leaves about
50% untouched which can only be removed by Biological oxidation. This indicates that chemical
treatment is not an economic process and so can be done away with.

PHYSICAL PROCESS METHODS:

Include the following:

1. Sedimentation
2. Screening
3. Grit removal e.t.c
4. Dilution
5. Storm overflow

BIOLOGICAL PROCESS METHODS:

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Method in common use which rely on biological stabilization includes:

1. Waste stabilization ponds

2. Oxidation ditches
3. Aerated lagoons
4. Trackling filters – (Biofillters-bacteria)
5. Septic tanks
6. Activated sludge process
7. Sludge digestion:
a. Sand filtration
b. Micro-straining
c. Chlorination

THE EFFICIENCY OF SOME OF THE ABOVE PROCESSES ARE AS INDICATED

BELOW.

Treatment System % BOD Demand % COLIFARM REMOVAL

Waste stabilization ponds 80-90 99.9
Aerated lagoons 80-90 85-95
Oxidation ditches 95-98 90-95
Conventional treatment 85-90 95

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PRINCLES OF WASTES PURIFICATION (TREATMENT)

There are 3 basic principles of waste purification

a. Biological process
b. Physical process
c. Chemical process

PHYSICAL PROCESS
This process involves separation of suspended or floating matter by either screening or
sedimentation course solids e.g. rugs, maize cobs, pieces of wood e.t.c. are removed by
screening or communition. Communition is a method of solid disintegration by either chopping
or crushing the solids. Sedimentation is most common in the removal of grit (heavy inorganic
solids and other settable suspended organic matter in specially designed settling tanks).

CHEMICAL PROCESS
Where chemicals are used in waste treatment, they are used where the receiving water is the
source of drinking water. Other types of wastes e.g. tannery wastes, metal processing wastes etc.
require chemicals for pre-treatment before discharge into sewerage course.

BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROCESS

The micro-organisms in water utilize the organic wastes present to satisfy their nutritional
requirements and they use oxygen for their respiratory demand. The overall result is that much of
the organic matter is converted to ammonia, CO2, H2O, CH4, NO3, etc. and microorganism’s
population increase. The greater the quantity of organic matter present, the more the micro-
organisms multiply and hence the greater quantity of O2 required bringing about the required
oxidation of initial organic matter present.
So in this process we rely mostly on bacteria although other forms of aquatic life help in
purification. Bacteria may be aerobic, anaerobic or facultative. Aerobic bacteria carry on their
activity in presence of free oxygen.

Anaerobic bacteria derives oxygen from O2 containing compounds and do not require free
oxygen.

Facultative bacteria are capable of deriving in presence of both free and combined 02.

These bacteria are not pathogenic and occur naturally in sewerage. They will function when
conditions are favourable in terms of food, temperature, moisture; absence of toxic compounds
e.g. disinfectants, presence or absence of dissolved oxygen.

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The decomposition of organic matter will continue until all the organic matter has been changed
into non-degradable by products. The sewage is then said to be stabilized.

Anaerobic decomposition (putrefaction) is normally accompanied by unpleasant odours. This

kind of sewage is said to be septic and stabilization through this process takes a very long time
(days) as compared to aerobic oxidation which may take even hours in some cases.

During the process of stabilization the following occurs

Organic matter + O2 +bacteria→ oxidized waste + energy

This energy is used to build new cells thus:

Organic waste + energy+ bacteria→ new cells

These processes of bacteria oxidation lead to mineralization of organic matter i.e organic wastes
converted to inorganic forms thus:

Organic carbon + O2 + Bacteria →C O2

Organic Nitrogen + O2 +Bacteria →NO3

Organic Hydrogen + O2 bacteria→ H20

Organic Sulphur + O2 bacteria →SO42-

Organic Phosphorus + O2 bacteria →PO43-

So during biological oxidation the following occur:

1. Aerobic process New Cells

Organic matter + O2 + bacteria
C02, NH3, h20
Anaerobic Process
2. Organic matter + Bacteria New Cells New Cells
Alcohols + Bacteria
& Acids C02, NH3,

Oxidation of nitrogen compounds termed nitrification proceeds thus:

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 Organic N+ O2 Ammonia + O2 NO2 N+O2 NO3 N

Reduction of Nitrogen termed de-nitrification reverses the process thus:

New Cells Anaerobic

NO3 NO2-
C02, NH3,

The relative concentrations of the different forms of nitrogen give a useful indication of the
nature and strength of sewage. It also indicates the period pollution has lasted. Before the
availability of Bacteria analysis was developed, quality of water was often assessed by
considering the nitrogen content and the results are interpreted thus:

a. Water containing high organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen with little nitrites and
nitrates would be considered unsafe because of recent pollution , and
b. Water with no organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen but having higher nitrates was
considered safe since oxidation was almost complete and so could have been recent.

Degradation of organic matter

ULTIMATE
PRODUCTS
C
O
H2
N
C S
C02
O
H20+HN02
H20 O2 H2
No3
N
CONS+ 19
S04 S H2
 CYCLE OF CARBON,NITROGEN & SULPHUR IN AEROBIC
DECOMPOSITION

Water products
And death Dead organic
matter

Organism of
O2 for respiration of
1. Nitrogenous
2. Carbonaceous
3. Sulpherous Initial products of
Living animal decomposition

1. Protein 1. Ammonia
Nitrogen
Death and decay

2. Fats
2. CO2
3. H2s
CO2

CO2 RESERVIOR OF

decomposition
O2 for biological
OXYGEN NITROGEN
Oxidation

oxidation
Living animal

reduction
AND CO2 IN AIR
Matter
AND WATER
1. Proteins
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fats

Intermediate
products of
Nitrogen fixation

Decomposition
Photosynthesis CO2

1. Nitrate Nitrogen
Photosynthesis 02

2. CO2
3. Sulphur

Reduction
Decomposition
Final products of Decomposition
decomposition

1. Nitrate Nitrogen
Oxidation
2. CO2
3. sulphates

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 CYCLE OF CARBON,NITROGEN & SULPHUR IN
ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION

Dead organic
Living animal matter
1. Nitrogenous
1.Protein
2. Carbonaceous
2. Fats
3. Sulpherous
Initial products of
decomposition

1. Organic acids
Death and decay

2. Carbonates &
CO2
Animal life

CO2 3. Hydrogen
sulphite

CO2 RESERVIOR OF Gases of

OXYGEN NITROGEN decomposition
AND CO2 IN AIR
Living Plant
AND WATER
Matter
1. Proteins
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fats

Intermediate
products of
Decomposition
Nitrogen fixation

Gases of
Photosynthesis 02

1.& 2Ammonia
Respiration

decomposition Nitrogen Acidic

CO2

Carbonates
3.Sulphates

Final products of
decomposition

1&2. Ammonia N2
humus, CO2 and CH4

3. Sulphates

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 DIFFRENCE BETWEEN AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC
AEROBIC
1. Bacteria needs free oxygen
2. Takes a shorter period
3. Oxidation is complete
4. Produces less odour
5. More energy is produced
6. Hydrogen acceptor is oxygen
7. No acids or alcohols are formed
8. No methane is formed
9. More efficient
10. Treats wastes with lower BOD
11. More expensive in an individual house
To maintain
ADVANTAGES
AEROBIC
1. Takes a shorter period
2. Oxidation is complete
3. Produce less odour
4. More energy is produced
5. More efficient
ANAEROBIC
Bacteria do not need free oxygen
Takes a longer period
oxidation is difficult to complete
produces more odour
less energy is produced
Hydrogen acceptor are NO3,PO4
Acids & alcohols are formed
methane is formed
less efffecient
Treats waste with very strong BOD
Treats waste with very strong BOD
ANEROBIC
1. Bacteria do not need free
2. Methane is formed O2 fuel
3. Can treat very strong waste
4. More convenient for an
individual house
5. Cheap
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 Design
LAYOUT OF PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
Screening

Communition

Grit chamber

Pre –aeration

Sedimentation

Anaerobic pond

Facultative pond

Maturation pond

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Disposal of effluent to water body