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Module III

Module III covers the basics of biological water treatment, including various processes such as activated sludge, trickling filtration, and oxidation ponds. It explains how secondary treatment removes soluble organic matter and suspended solids using microbial processes. Additionally, it details the mechanisms of different biological treatment methods and their efficiencies in wastewater management.

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4 views

Module III

Module III covers the basics of biological water treatment, including various processes such as activated sludge, trickling filtration, and oxidation ponds. It explains how secondary treatment removes soluble organic matter and suspended solids using microbial processes. Additionally, it details the mechanisms of different biological treatment methods and their efficiencies in wastewater management.

Uploaded by

allavamsi609
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module III

Module III:
Biological Treatment: Basics of biological water treatment, relevant
kinetics, biological reactor configurations, Activated sludge process,
trickling filtration, lagoon treatment, submerged aerators, upward flow
sludge blanket reactor, rotating disc biological contrators, advances in
biological treatment
Secondary Treatment for waste water treatment
Basics of Biological Processes in Wastewater Treatment
Biological Treatment Process: Respiration
Microbial Growth
Microbial Growth Kinetics
Monod Kinetics for Microbial Growth
B. Secondary treatment

Secondary treatment removes the soluble organic matter that escapes primary treatment. It also removes more of the
suspended solids. Removal is usually accomplished by biological processes in which microbes consume the organic
impurities as food, converting them into carbon di oxide, water, and energy for their own growth and reproduction. The
sewage treatment plant provides a suitable environment, albeit of steel and concrete, for this natural biological process.
Removal of soluble organic matter at the treatment plant helps to protect the dissolved oxygen balance of a receiving
stream, river, or lake.

There are three basic biological treatment methods: the trickling filter, the activated sludge process, and the
oxidation pond. A fourth, less common method is the rotating biological contacter.
Secondary treatment
Trickling filter
A trickling filter is simply a tank filled with a deep bed of stones. Settled
sewage is sprayed continuously over the top of the stones and trickles to
the bottom, where it is collected for further treatment. As the wastewater
trickles down, bacteria gather and multiply on the stones. The steady flow
of sewage over these growths allows the microbes to absorb the dissolved
organics, thus lowering the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the
sewage. Air circulating upward through the spaces among the stones
provides sufficient oxygen for the metabolic processes.
Settling tanks, called secondary clarifiers, follow the trickling filters.
These clarifiers remove microbes that are washed off the rocks by the flow
of wastewater. Two or more trickling filters may be connected in series,
and sewage can be recirculated in order to increase treatment efficiencies.
Trickling filter
Activated sludge
The activated sludge treatment system consists of an aeration tank followed by a
secondary clarifier. Settled sewage, mixed with fresh sludge that is recirculated
from the secondary clarifier, is introduced into the aeration tank.
Compressed air is then injected into the mixture through porous diffusers located
at the bottom of the tank. As it bubbles to the surface, the diffused air provides
oxygen and a rapid mixing action. Air can also be added by the churning action of
mechanical propeller-like mixers located at the tank surface.

Under such oxygenated conditions, microorganisms thrive, forming an


active, healthy suspension of biological solids—mostly bacteria—called
activated sludge. About six hours of detention is provided in the aeration
tank. This gives the microbes enough time to absorb dissolved organics from
the sewage, reducing the BOD. The mixture then flows from the aeration
tank into the secondary clarifier, where activated sludge settles out by
Activated sludge Process
gravity.
• Clear water is skimmed from the surface of the clarifier, disinfected, and discharged as secondary effluent. The
sludge is pumped out from a hopper at the bottom of the tank. About 30 percent of the sludge is recirculated back
into the aeration tank, where it is mixed with the primary effluent.
• This recirculation is a key feature of the activated sludge process. The recycled microbes are well acclimated to the
sewage environment and readily metabolize the organic materials in the primary effluent. The remaining 70 percent
of the secondary sludge must be treated and disposed of in an acceptable manner
Oxidation pond

Oxidation ponds, also called lagoons or stabilization ponds, are large,


shallow ponds designed to treat wastewater through the interaction
of sunlight, bacteria, and algae. Algae grow using energy from the sun
and carbon dioxide and inorganic compounds released by bacteria in
water. During the process of photosynthesis, the algae release oxygen
needed by aerobic bacteria. Mechanical aerators are sometimes
installed to supply yet more oxygen, thereby reducing the required size
of the pond.

Sludge deposits in the pond must eventually be removed by


dredging. Algae remaining in the pond effluent can be
removed by filtration or by a combination of chemical
treatment and settling.

Oxidation pond
Rotating biological contacter
In this treatment system a series of large plastic disks mounted on a horizontal shaft are partially submerged in
primary effluent. As the shaft rotates, the disks are exposed alternately to air and wastewater, allowing a layer of
bacteria to grow on the disks and to metabolize the organics in the wastewater.

Rotating biological contacter

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