ROLE OF MICROBES IN

BIOLOGICAL
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
PRIYANKA JHA
MT/ENV/1002/2011
MICROBIAL PROCESSES
 aim: any form of life-
‘ survive & multiply ’
 need for energy & organic
molecules as building blocks
 cell: derives energy from
oxidation of reduced food
sources (carbohydrate, protein &
fats)
 Log No. of Cells

Lag phase

Log growth phase

Stationary phase

Time
 exponential growth

Death phase
Biological growth...
 ROLE OF MICROBES

1. Carbonaceous removal - aerobic

- anaerobic

2. Nitrogen removal - nitrification

- denitrification
TREATMENT PROCESSES
AEROBIC SYSYTEMS

 Oxidation ponds and lagoons

 Biodisc systems

 Activated sludge process

 Trickling filters
Oxidation Ponds

Algae and bacteria grow in pond consuming organics and nutrients in

effluent. Algae settles and degrades by anaerobic process.

Sunlight  Photosynthesis  Algae + Organics & Nutrients

Organic Matter  Anaerobic Decomposition

MECHANISM

The 1st stage - the sewage pond is deep enough so that conditions are
anaerobic. Sludge settles down in this stage.
The 2nd stage - corresponds to secondary treatment; effluent is
pumped into an adjoining pond/s shallow enough to be aerated by
wave action.
 BIODISC SYSTEMS
• Closely spaced discs usually made of plastic
• Rotated in a trough containing the sewage effluent
• The discs are particularly submerged and become
coated with a slime
• Continuous rotation of the discs keeps the slime well
aerated and in contact with the sewage.
Activated Sludge Process

 Air bubbled through waste water.

 Bacteria form large flocs. – Zoogloea
ramigera is one of the key species that forms a
slime and is the base of the floc.
 After the flocs form they are allowed to settle
out
 Filamentous bacteria can cause sludge
bulking
problems--sludge thickens
 TRICKLING FILTERS
• A bed of crushed rocks—
the primary treated sewage is
trickled over it.

• Lots of surfaces used for

microorganisms to attach to.

• Complete mineralization of
waste to CO2, ammonia,
nitrate, sulfate, and
phosphate
 TREATMENT PROCESSES
ANAEROBIC SYSYTEMS

• UPFLOW ANAEROBIC SLUDGE BLANKET 

• ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
UPFLOW ANAEROBIC SLUDGE BLANKET

Uses an anaerobic process whilst forming a blanket of

granular sludge which suspends in the tank
Biological Nitrogen Removal

It takes place in two steps

1. Nitrification i.e. oxidation of NH3

- Nitrifying bacteria
- Aerobes
- Convert nitrogenous waste into nitrate

2. Denitrification for Nitrate Removal

- Denitrifying bacteria
- Anaerobes
- Convert nitrate to N2
 NITRIFICATION
 Ammonia is converted into nitrate
 Ammonia has a high BOD because NH3 oxidation
requires oxygen.
 Two groups of microbes are involved:
– Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB)
– Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB)
 AOB oxidize NH3 to NO2 in two steps:
– Ammonia monooxygenase (AMO)
– Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO)
 NOB oxidize NO2- to NO3-
– Uses the Nor enzyme complex
 Both AOB and NOB respire oxygen
 DENITRIFICATION

HETEROTROPHIC DENITRIFICATION

- denitrifiers require reduced carbon source for energy and

cell synthesis

- denitrifiers can use variety of organic carbon source -

methanol, ethanol and acetic acid

NO -3 + 1.08CH 3OH + H + 
 0.065C5 H 7 O 2 N  0.47N 2  0.76CO 2  2.44H 2 O
 CONCLUSION
THE ADDITION OF SPECIFICALLY
CULTURED MICROBES SEEMS TO BE
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE AND MOST
GENERALLY RELIABLE WAY TO
ACCOMPLISH DESIRABLE RESULTS.

ADDITION THE RIGHT MICROBES IN

PROPER PROPORTIONS TO THE
ENVIRONMENT, IT ESTABLISHES
ENTIRELY NEW PARAMETERS OF
POTENTIAL FOR THE TREATMENT .