Wastewater Efficiency Efficient for Advantages Disadvantag Other Classification

Treatment (BOD Wastewater es Information

System Reduction) Characteristic
s and Industry
Sedimentation Moderate Settleable - Simple design - Limited - Requires Physical
to High solids, and operation effectiveness additional
suspended in removing treatment
solids dissolved for complete
pollutants removal of
pollutants
Filtration High Fine solids, - Effective in - High - Can be Physical
suspended removing small operational combined
solids particles and with other
maintenance treatment
costs methods for
enhanced
efficiency
Coagulation High Colloidal - Rapid and - Chemical - Often used Chemical
solids, heavy efficient addition as a pre-
metals removal of required treatment
colloidal step
particles
Flocculation High Colloidal and - Enhanced - Longer - Often used Chemical
fine aggregation and treatment in
suspended settling of time combination
solids particles compared to with
other coagulation
methods
Chelation Low to Heavy metals - Effective in - Limited - Requires Chemical
Moderate removing applicability proper
specific heavy to other disposal of
metals pollutants chelating
agents
Aerobic High Organic - Efficient in - Requires a - Commonly Biological
compounds, breaking down constant used in
nutrients organic supply of municipal
pollutants oxygen wastewater
treatment
Anaerobic Moderate High-strength - Generates - Longer - Used for Biological
to High organic waste, biogas as a treatment treating
sludge byproduct time industrial
digestion compared to wastewater
aerobic with high
systems organic
loads
 Hybrid High Complex - Combines - Complex - Suitable for Biological
wastewater advantages of design and a wide range
with varying aerobic and operation of
characteristics anaerobic wastewater
processes types

Additional Comparison:

Characteristic Sedimentation Filtration Coagulation Flocculation Chelation Aerobic Anaerobic Hybrid

Mechanism Physical Physical Chemical Chemical Chemical Biological Biological Biological
Removal of Limited Limited Limited Limited Yes Yes Partially Yes
Dissolved
Pollutants
Applicable to Yes No No No No No No No
Settleable
Solids
Applicable to Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Partially Yes
Suspended
Solids
Applicable to No No Yes Yes No No No Yes
Colloidal
Solids
Applicable to No No Yes No Yes No No No
Heavy Metals
Applicable to No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Organic
Compounds
Applicable to No No No No No Yes No No
Nutrients
Generates No No No No No No Yes No
Biogas