Matoshri Education Society’s

MATOSHRI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

A/P : Dhanore, Tal-Yeola , Dist.-Nasik, 423401

Micro Project Report

Academic year: 2023-24

Title of Project
Waste Water Treatment

Name of Student : Gaikwad Umesh V.

Class : TYCE
Semester : Fifth
Roll No : 03
Enrollment No : 2111710004
Seat No : 445311
Program : Civil Engg.
Course : Public Health Engineering ( PHE )
Course Code : 22504
Name of Teacher : PROF.Shinde R.M.

PAGE 1
 Matoshri Education Society’s
MATOSHRI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
A/P : Dhanore, Tal-Yeola , Dist.-Nasik, 423401

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Mr.Gaikwad Umesh V. Roll

No.03 Of Fifth semester of Diploma in Civil Engineering of
Institute, MIT POLYTECHNIC, DHANORE Code(1171)
has successfully completed the Micro Project in Public
Health Engineering ( PHE ) for the Academic year 2023-24
as prescribed in MSBTE curriculum under the guidance of
subject teacher.

Place: Yeola Enrollment No: 2111710004

Date: Seat No: 445311

Subject Teacher HOD Principal

Prof.Shinde R.M. Prof.Shinde R.M. Prof.Gujrathi G.S.

PAGE 2
 Micro Project Report Index

Academic Year:- 2023-24 Program:- Civil Engineering

Class:- TYCE Course:- PHE
Course Code:- 22504 Roll No:-04
Enrollment No :-2111710044 Exam Seat No:-445311
Title of Micro Project:- Waste Water Treatment

Sr. No. Contents Page No.

1 Rubrics
2 Project Proposal
3 Log Book
4 Introduction
5 Details
6 Conclusion
7 References

Signature of Student Signature of Faculty

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Prof.Shinde R.M.

PAGE 3
 ANNEXURE I

Rubric For Evaluation of Micro Project

Academic Year: 2023-24 Program: Civil Engineering
Class: TYCE Course: PHE
Course Code: 22504 Roll No: 04
Enrollment No: 2111710004 Exam Seat No: 445311
Title of Micro Project: Waste Water Treatment

Sr.No. Roll No. Name of Candidate

1. 02 Ahire Charudatt N.
2. 03 Gaikwad Umesh V.
3. 11 Pawar Ajinkya A.
Co Coverage: ( )
Indicators for different level of Performance
Marks
(Evaluation Scale 0 to 2)
Sr. No Criteria Obtained (
Out of 2) Poor (0) Average (1) Good (2)

Submission of Project proposal &

Not Submitted proposal or project
1 Project project report
anything in time report submitted in
proposal/Report submitted in time
time
CO/PRO Not attained any Attained maximum
2 attainment Attained some CO/PRO
CO/PRO CO/PRO
Content of Not contains Contains maximum
Contains some relevant
3 project/ Formation relevant relevant
information
g information information
Total Marks
4
(06)
Question/
5
Answers (04)
Total (10) :

Additional Comments (if any): Name of Teacher & sign

Prof.Shinde R.M.

PAGE 4
 Micro Project Log Book

Semester: Fifth Program: Civil Engineering

Course: PHE Class: TYCE
Topic of the Micro-Project: Waste Water Treatment
Sr.No. Roll No. Name of Group Members Sign.
01 02 Ahire Charudatt N.
02 03 Gaikwad Umesh V.
03 11 Pawar Ajinkya A.

Week Discussion & Details Date’s Teacher’s

No. Sign.
1 General discussion about micro project activity.
2 Guidelines for micro project.
3 Discussion on different
industry/application/study oriented topics
4 Group member are finalized and the topic is
decided, as
5 Work distribution to collect the information
regarding topic by each member.
6 Gathered information through the various
sources, such as internet, book, magazine,
joutrnar and newspaper.
7 Discussed the difficulty faced during the
collection of necessary information among the
group member.
8 Discussion with the guide to sort out difficulty
faced while collecting the information.
9 Prepared a rough draft & Shown it to the guide.
10 Necessary instructions are given by the guide for
its better presentation & Finalized project.
11 Presentation is given on the topic, Report is
prepared on the topic & final submission of
micro project and Report.

Name & Signature of project Guide Name & Signature of

H.O.D.
Prof.Shinde R.M. Prof.Shinde R.M.

PAGE 5
 Introduction

The composition of municipal waste water varies from place to place. Sometimes industrial
wastes also mix with sewage. The type of treatment of waste water thus depends upon its
characteristics and the desired quality of water after treatment.

The purpose of waste water treatment is to remove/reduce organic and inorganic substances,
nutrients toxic substances kill pathogenic organisms etc. So that the quality of discharged
water is improved to meet the permissible level of water to be discharged in some water
body, on land or agricultural field.

Treatment of water thus aims at reduction of BOD, COD, eutrophication, etc. Of receiving
water bodies and prevention of bio-magnification of toxic substances in food chain and
prevention of disease due to pathogenic organisms present in the waste water.

PAGE 6
Basic Parameters in Waste Water Characterisation:

Sources information:

Sources information for the individual points of origin waste components, individually or at
least by classes, rate of discharge during production run (average and maximum). Periodic
discharges due to batch operation. Duration and frequency of production runs. Susceptibility
to emergency discharges or spills.

1. Chemical Composition:

Organic and inorganic components, by compounds or classes.

Gross organics: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Bio-
chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), extractable.

Specific problems ions (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, CN, Hg, Pb, Se, Ag, NO3)

Specific problem organics, e.g. phenol, certain pesticides, benzidine, polychlorinated bio-
phenyls, certain poly-nuclear aromatics.

Total dissolved salts

pH, acidity, alkalinity

Nitrogen and phosphorus.

Oils and greases (extractable)

Oxidizing or reducing agents (.e.g., sulphides) Surfactants

Chlorine demand.

2. Biological Effects:
Biochemical oxygen demand

Toxicity (aquatic life, bacteria, mammals, plants) Pathogenic bacteria.

3. Physical Properties:
Temperature range and distribution

Insoluble components: colloidal, settleable, floatable

PAGE 7
Colour

Order

Foam ability

Corrosiveness.

4. Flow Data for Total Discharge:

 Average daily flow rate
 Duration and level of maximum flow rate
 Maximum rate of change of flow rate.

Biochemical Characteristics of Waste Water Treatment:

Suspended solids are determined by filtering suitable aliquot of sample through a previously
weighed sintered grooch crucible and drying the crucible in an oven at 103° – 105°C to
constant weigh. The difference in the initial and final weight of the curcible gives SS content,
mg/1.

1. Settleable Solids:
Allowing 1 litre of the sample to settle for about 1 hr at 20°C in an 1 ra cone. The volume of
settleable matter in the tapered conical tube is recorded as ml/1. The settleable solids may be
expressed in mg/1 also.

PAGE 8
 2. Total solids:
Determined by evaporating a known volume of the waste water sample and drying the
residue for 24 hrs. in oven at 103°-105°C. Followed by weighing. This gives the total solids
content of the sample which comprises the dissolved as well as suspended solids.
Filterable solid. — Organic and Inorganic Solid.

3. Dissolved oxygen:
The D.O. content of a water sample is measured codes metrically by the modified Wrinkler’s
method.

Oxygen present in the sample oxidize in divalent mass generation its higher valency with
precipitates as a brown hydrates, oxides after addition of NaOH and KI upon acidification
manganese reverts to divalent state and liberate iodine from KI equivalent to DO content of
the sample which is titrated against 1 standard N/80 solution of sodium thiosulphate using
starch as an indicator.

Interference due to nitrate can be eliminated by adding sodium azide to the alkelene
potassium iodide solution.

The D.O. is usually expressed as mg/1 or ppm.

This is measured by D.O. oxy-meter

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.):

Theory:
Micro-organisms can utilize organic substance as food and oxides them to obtain energy for
their life process. Some bacteria are also capable to utilize, reduce inorganic substance such
as Fe2+, S2-and NH3 to obtain energy.
In the biological degradation of sewage and other wastes (caused by various types of living
organisms or bacteria) organic matter is converted into fragments consisting of acetic acid.
When sufficient oxygen is present such as in aerobic system. Oxygen is reduced while the
organic matter is oxidised into CO2 and water.

PAGE 9
 When sufficient amount of oxygen is not available i.e., anoxic conditions prevail,
organic matter is oxidised by using nitrate as an electron acceptor.

When oxygen is absent i.e., anaerobic conditions exist SO 42– , PO43–and CO2 whatever
available acts as electron acceptor and get reduced to H 2S, HS– (Mercaptons-rotten
eggs smell), PH3, CH4

The amount of oxygen required by a mixed population of micro-organisms on oxidising

organic matter present in a sample, under strictly aerobic conditions, is generally known as
B.O.D., and is directly related to the extent of pollution (by sewage or other oxygen-
demanding wastes).

The rate of bacterial oxidation at any instant is proportional to the amount of the oxygen-
demanding waste left at the instant, i.e., this reaction follows first order reaction and
theoretically will be completed in infinite time.

However, it has been observed that about 70 – 80% of the total B.O.D. is exerted in first 5
days. The sample is therefore incubated for 5 days at 20°C and the B.O.D. values determined

PAGE 10
are reported as B.O.D. A polluted sample may consume more oxygen in 5 days than present
in water (nearly 9 mg/1 at 20°C). Hence before analysis it is diluted with a specially prepared
“Dilution Water”.

The dilution water is prepared by passing air in distilled water for 1 – 2 days so as to make it
saturated by dissolved oxygen. In one liter of this 1 ml each of phosphate buffer MgCl 2,
CaCl2 and FeCl3 are mixed. The sample so diluted is taken in two bottles. The D.O. of one is
determined immediately and that of the other after 5 days incubation. The B.O.D. of the
sample is then calculated by

where D1= D.O. of the sample in mg/l at the start of the experiment
D2 = D.O. of the sample in mg/1 after 5 days
A = ml of the sample before dilution

B = ml of the sample after dilution.

Measurement of D.O. content of the sample before or after in combustion at 20°C for 5 days
or glutonic BOD at 27°C for 3 days. If the sample does not contain any oxygen, it is supplied
with oxygen and the depletion caused is calculated as the B.O.D. measurement. Microbial
organisms or seed may also have to provided B.O.D. is expressed in mg/1.

. Chemical Oxygen Demand (C.O.D.):

The C.O.D. is usually defined as the amount of oxygen used while oxidizing the organic
matter content of a sample with a strong chemical oxidant under acidic conditions.

The organic matter in the sample is related as the oxygen required (C.O.D.) in
accordance with equation:

PAGE 11
In C.O.D. determination the organic matter is completely oxidised to CO 2 and H2O, the
C.O.D. values are greater than B.O.D. values which represent the amount of oxygen that
bacteria require for stabilizing biologically oxidisable matter.
The C.O.D. tests are performed with the same objectives as those of B.O.D. test. C.O.D. test
results are obtained in 5 hours whereas B.O.D. results are obtained in 5 days. In comparison
to B.O.D., there is least interference in C.O.D. test.

Chemical oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen consumed under specified condition in the
oxidation of organic and oxidisable inorganic matter connected for the influence of chlorides.

When the waste water aliquot of the sample is refluxed with a known excess of oxidizing
agent potassium dichromate in the 50% sulphuric acid solution in the presence of AgSO 4.
Silver sulphate as catalyst and mercuric sulphide.
The organic matter of the aliquot sample is oxidized to water, CO 2 and ammonia. The excess
dichromate remaining unreacted in the solution water standard solution of 0.1 N ferrous
ammonium sulphate.

Where V1 and V2 are the volume of ferrous ammonium sulphate run down in the blank and
test experiments.
One sample volume of the sample taken for the test

Stages of Waste Water Treatment:

Waste water, whether domestic or industrial have several undesirable components, the
organic and inorganic pollutants that are potentially harmful to the environment and human
health. The treatment of waste water and its proper management has become a necessity in
order to conserve this vital resource.

The main aim of waste water treatment is the removal of contaminants from water so that the
treated water can be reused for beneficial purposes. The waste water treatment is carried out
in three stages: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary or advanced waste treatment.

PAGE 12
 I. Primary Treatment:
Waste water, contains a wide variety of solids of various shapes, sizes and densities. The
primary treatment is of general nature and is used for removing suspended solids, odour,
colour and to neutralize the high or low pH in the case of industrial effluents.

This stage exploits the physical or chemical properties of the contaminants and removes the
suspended and floating matter by screening, sedimentation, floatation, filtration, precipitation
etc.

PAGE 13
 II. Screening:
Screening devices are used to remove coarse solids from waste water. Coarse solids consist
of sticks, rags, boards and other large objects that often and inexplicably, find their way into
waste water collection systems.

Because the primary purpose of screens is to protect pumps and other mechanical equipment
and to prevent clogging of valves and other appurtenances in the waste water plant, screening
is normally the first operation performed on the incoming waste water.

Waste water screens are classified as coarse or fine, depending on their construction. Coarse
screens usually consist of Vertical bars spaced 20-60 mm apart and inclined away from the
incoming flow. Solids retained by the bare are usually removed by manual raking in small
plants, while mechanically cleaned units are used in larger plants.

Fine screening (10-20 mm) consist of woven-wire cloth or perforated plates mounted on
rotating disk or drum partially submerged in the flow, or on travelling belt. Fine screens
should be mechanically cleaned on a continual basis.

The quantity of solids removed by screening depends on screen-opening size. Screened solid
are coated with organic material of a very objectionable nature and should be promptly
disposed-off to prevent a health hazard and/or nuisance condition. Disposal in a sanitary land
fill, grinding and returning to the waste water flow, and incineration are the most com mon
disposal practices.

III. Comminuting:
As mentioned above screenings are sometimes shredded and returned to the waste water
flow. A hammer mill device is most often used for this purpose. Most often; a shredding
device called a comminutor is located across the flow path and intercepted the coarse solids
and shreds them to approx. 0.8 mm in size. These solids remain in the waste water.

PAGE 14
Many kinds of comminutes are available. Basic parts include a screen and cutting teeth. The
screen may be a slotted drum that rotates in the vertical plane. Stationary teeth then shred
material that is intercepted by the screen.

Other types use as stationary semi-circular screen and rotating or oscillating cutting teeth.
Another device, called a barminutor, uses a vertical bars screen with a cutting head that
travels up and down, the rack of bars, shredding the intercepted material.

Shredding devices should be located ahead of pumping facilities at the treatment plant. Grit
removal ahead of the shredder will save wear on the cutting head. Usually, however, grit
chambers are located at or above ground level to facilitate grit handling, and pumps may be
necessary to lift the sewage to them. In this case, shredding is done ahead of the pumps and
cutter wear must be tolerated.

IV. Grit Removal:

Municipal waste water contains a wide assortment of inorganic solids such as pebbles, sand,
silt, egg shells, glass and metal fragments. Operations to remove these inorganics will also
remove some of the larger, heavier organics such as bone chips, seeds etc. Together, these
comprise the material known as grit in waste water treatment systems.

Most of the substances in grit are abrasive in nature and will cause accelerated wear on
pumps and sludge handling equipment with which it comes in contact. Grit deposits in areas
of low hydraulic shear in pipes, sumps and clarifiers may absorb greases and solidify.

PAGE 15
Also, these materials are not biodegradable and occupy valuable space in sludge digesters. It
is therefore, desirable to separate them from the organic suspended solids.

The latter should not be allowed to settle along-with, otherwise it gets entangled with the
inorganic matter causing septicity of waste water and requiring unnecessary labour and
expenses for removal. A velocity of flow between 0.15 to 0.3 m/sec is practically considered
sufficient for this purpose.

Grit removal facilities basically consist of an enlarged channel area where reduced flow
velocities allow grit to settle out. Many configurations of grit tanks are available. At-least two
separate chambers should be provided, one to take care of low flow and the other for the high
flow. A period of detention of 1 minute is commonly employed. Grit chambers are cleaned
by hand, mechanically or hydraulically.

Hand clearing is done only in the case of smaller plants, is less hygienic and odour free
though somewhat easier for disposing of the removed material than in the case of mechanical
cleaning. In hydraulic-cleaning, the deposited material is flushed out under fire-streams
directed from a central point and removed through pipes in the side-walls or bottom of the
chamber.

V. Skimming Tanks:
A skimming tank is a chamber so arranged that the floating matter like oil, fat, grease etc.,
rise and remain on the surface of the waste water (Sewage) until removed, while the liquid
flows out continuously under partitions or baffles.

PAGE 16
It is necessary to remove the floating matter from sewage otherwise it may appear in the form
of unsightly scum on the surface of the settling tanks or interfere with the activated sludge
process of sewage treatment. It is mostly present in the industrial sewage. In ordinary sanitary
sewage, its amount is usually too small.

The chamber is a long trough shaped structure divided up into two or three lateral
compartments by vertical baffle walls having slots for a short distance below the sewage
surface and permitting oil and grease to escape into stilling compartments.

The rise of floating matter is brought about by the blowing air into the sewage from diffusers
placed in the bottom. Sewage enters the tank from one end. A theoretical detention period of
3 minutes is enough.

The floating matter can be either hand or mechanically removed. Grease traps are in reality
small skimming tanks designed with submerged inlet and bottom outlet.

The traps must have sufficient capacity to permit the sewage to cool and grease to separate.
Frequent cleaning through removable covers is essential for satisfactory operation. Grease
traps are commonly employed in case of industries, garages, hotels, and hospitals.

VI. Sedimentation:
In this step, the settleable solid are removed by gravitational settling under quiescent
conditions. The sludge formed at the bottom of the tank is removed as under flow either by
vacuum suction or by raking it to a discharge point at the bottom of the tank for withdrawal.

PAGE 17
The clear liquid produced is known as the overflow and it should contain no readily settle-
able matter.

The sedimentation operation in waste treatment applications may be carried out in rectangular
horizontal flow, circular radial flow or vertical flow basis. Fig. 7.8 shows the three main
types of arrangements.

In rectangular tanks, feed is introduced at one end along with the width of the tank and the
overflow is collected at the surfaces, either across the other end or at different point along the
length of the tank. An endless conveyor scrapes the floating material into a screen through
which it also pushes the settled solids into a sludge hopper.

PAGE 18
VII. Flotation:
Flotation may be used in place of sedimentation, primarily for treating industrial waste water
containing finely divided suspended solids and oily matter. Flotation technique is used in
paper industry to recover fine fibres from the screened effluent and in the oil industry for the
classification of oil bearing waste. It is also used for treating effluents from tanneries, metal
finishing, cold-rolling and pharmaceutical industries.

Particles of density very close to that of water are very difficult to settle in normal
sedimentation tanks and take a long time for separation. In such cases, the separation can be
speeded up by aerating the effluent where by air bubbles are attached to the suspended
matter.

This has the effect for increasing the buoyancy of the particles as a result; the particles float
to surface from where they can be readily removed. To aid in the flotation process, chemical
coagulants such as aluminium and ferric salts or polymer coagulant-aids are often used.
These chemicals increase the flocculent structure of the floated particles so that they can
easily entrap the air bubbles.

Two methods of flotation are currently available:

(1) Dispersed-air flotation and

(2) Dissolved air flotation.

1. In dispersed air flotation, air is introduced directly into the liquid through a revolving
impeller or through diffusers. The air bubbles generated in dispersed air flotation systems are
normally about 1 mm in diameter and they usually cause turbulence which breaks up fragile
floe particles.

Due to this, dispersed air flotation is not favoured technique in the treatment of municipal
wastewater, although it finds a limited application in treating industrial wastes containing oil,
grease and fine powders.

2. In dissolved air flotation, air is intimately brought into contact with the waste water at a
pressure of several atmospheres when air is dissolved. The pressure on the liquid is reduced
to atmospheric level through a backpressure valve, there by releasing micron-sized bubbles.

PAGE 19
Suspended solids and oil are carried to the surface of the flotation tank by these minute air
bubbles. A typical flotation system is shown in Fig. 7.10. Here, the entire flow is pressurized
and held in the retention tank so that the air gets dissolved in the liquid.

The intense mixing of air and waste water in the pressurization system often degrades
flocculent suspensions or oil emulsions following chemical treatment. A portion of the clear
effluent is recycled for pressurization to prevent such degradations.

Compressed air is introduced into the discharge of the recycle pump and intimate contact is
achieved in the retention tank. The recycled flow is then returned through a back pressure

PAGE 20
 valve (where the pressurized air is released and mixed with the influent for flotation. The
time in the flotation tank is about half an hour.

VIII. Neutralization:
When pH of the industrial waste is too high or too low then it should be neutralized by acid
or alkali and only neutral effluent should be discharged into the drain or public sewer.

For neutralization of the acidic effluent, the following techniques are used:
1. Lime-Stone Treatment:
For acidic effluents, lime stone can be used as it will form calcium compounds depending
upon the presence and amount of acid.

2. Caustic Soda Treatment:

Although costly, yet the method is also utilized for neutralizing the acid. Caustic soda is
added in the effluent to make the pH neutral. Only small amounts of caustic soda is needed
for this work.

For neutralization of alkaline effluent, the following techniques are followed:

(a) Carbon Dioxide Treatment:
If the industry is producing carbon dioxide then only this method should be utilized for
neutralizing the pH, otherwise it would be costly affair. Here carbon dioxide is passed in
alkaline effluent to make its pH almost 7. (i.e. Neutral value).

(b) Sulphuric Acid Treatment:

This is a common method of neutralising alkaline effluent. Here sulphuric acid is added in the
effluent till pH becomes almost 7.

(c) Utilizing Waste Boiler-flue Gas:

The stack gas which contains about 12 percent carbon dioxide is utilized to react alkaline
effluent to make it neutral.

ii. Secondary or Biological Treatment:

The biological process of sewage is a secondary treatment involving removing, stabilizing
and rendering harmless very fine suspended matter, and solids of the waste water that remain
even after the primary treatment has been done.

PAGE 21
Since much of the organic material in waste water may be colloidal or dissolved, the primary
treatment processes are largely ineffective in removing it. The organic matter still represents
a high demand for oxygen which must be reduced further so that the effluent may be rendered
suitable for discharge into the water bodies.

In biological treatment, oxygen supplied to the bacteria is consumed under controlled

conditions so that most of the B.O.D. is removed in the treatment plant rather than in the
water course.

Thus, the principal requirements of a biological waste treatment process are an adequate
amount of bacteria that feed on the organic material present in waste water, oxygen and some
means of achieving contact between the bacteria and the organics.

Two of the most commonly used systems for biological waste treatment are:
(i) The activated sludge system and

(ii) The biological film system.

In the activated sludge system, the waste water is brought into contact with a diverse group of
micro-organisms in the form of a flocculent suspension in an aerated tank, whereas in the
biological film system, also known as trickling filters, the waste water is brought into contact
with a mixed microbial population in the form of a film of slime attached to the surface of a
solid support system. In both cases the organic matter is metabolized to more stable inorganic
forms.

(i) Activated Sludge Process:

The essential features of activated sludge process are: an aeration stage, solids-liquid
separation following aeration, and a sludge recycle system. Waste water after primary treat-
ment enter and aeration tank where the organic matter is brought into intimate contact with
the sludge from the secondary clarifier.

This sludge is heavily laden with micro-organisms which are in an active state of growth. Air
is introduced into the tank either in the form of bubbles through diffusers or by surface
aerators.

PAGE 22
The micro-organisms utilize the oxygen in the air and convert the organic matter into
stabilized, low-energy compounds such as NO3, SO4, CO2 and synthesize new bacterial cells.
The effluent from the aeration tank containing the flocculent microbial mass, known as
sludge, is separated in a settling tank sometimes called a secondary settler of a clarifier. In the
settling tank the separated sludge exits without contact with the organic matter and becomes
activated to the aeration tank as a seed; the rest is wasted.

If all the activated sludge is recycled, then the bacterial mass would keep increasing to the
stage where the system gets clogged with solids. It is therefore, necessary to ‘waste’ some of
the micro-organisms, and this wasted sludge is the one which is processed and disposed of.
The process flow diagram for a typical activated sludge plant is given in Fig. 7.11.

(ii) Trickling Filters or Biological Film System:

The secondly commonly used biological waste treatment process is the trickling filter
method. Trickling filters are also called percolating filters. It has good adaptability to handle
peak shock loads and the ability to function satisfactorily after a short period of time.

Milk processing, paper mill and pharmaceutical wastes are among those treated by tricking
filters. Conventional trickling filters normally consist of a rock bed. 1 to 3 metres in depth,
with enough openings between rocks to allow air to circulate easily.

The influent is sprinkled over the bed packing (See Fig. 7.12) which is coated with a
biological slime. As the liquid trickles over the packing, oxygen and the dissolved organic

PAGE 23
matter diffuse into the film to be metabolized by the micro-organism in this slime layer. End
products such as NO3, CO2 etc. diffuse back out of the film and appear in the filter effluent.
The other methods are:
(iii) Aerated lagoon

(iv) Oxidation pond

(v) Anaerobic digestions

As the micro-organisms utilize the organic matter, the thickness of the slime film increases to
a point where it can no longer be supported on the solid media and gets detached from the
surface. This process is known as sloughing. A settling tank following the trickling filter
removes the detached bacteria film and some suspended matter.

Handling and disposal of sludge from biological waste water treatment plant is an important
problem and represents about half the cost of most sewage treatment plants.

The concentration of solids in the primary sewage sludge is about 5 percent; the activated
sludge contains less than 1 percent solids; from trickling filters has about 2 percent solids.
The common unit operation of sludge treatment and disposal involve concentration or
thickening, digestion, conditioning, dewatering, oxidation and safe disposal.

(iii) Aerated Lagoon:

PAGE 24
The aerated lagoon system consists of a large pond that is equipped with machines aerations
to maintain an aerobic environment and to prevent settling of the suspend biomass. The
population of microorganisms in an aerated lagoon is much lower than that in an actual
sludge system because there is no sludge recycle.

(iv) Oxidation Pond:

Photosynthesis organic matter. The CO2 cycle is oxidation plant.

Advanced Waste Water Treatment:

Usually the primary and secondary treatments are sufficient to meet waste water effluent
standards. However, if water produced is required to be of higher water quality standards (in
case the water to be put to some direct reuse) then advanced waste water treatment is carried
out.

A wide variety of methods are used in advanced waste treatment, which includes the
removal of:
(a) Suspended solids,

(b) B.O.D.,

PAGE 25
(c) Plant nutrients,

(d) Dissolved solids and

(e) Toxic substances.

These methods may be introduced at any stage of the total treatment process as in the case of
industrial waste waters or may be used for complete removal of pollutants after the secondary
treatment.

The wastewater treatment processes are basically concentrating or thickening processes on

which the suspended solids are removed as sludge’s. The impurities in the wastewater are
concentrated into solid form and are then separated from the bulk liquid. This concentrated
form is referred to as sludge.

PAGE 26