SUSPENDED GROWTH BIOLOGICAL
TREATMENT PROCESSESS
Three basic components of activated sludge process
• 1) A reactor in which the microorganisms responsible
for treatment are kept in suspension and aerated.
• 2) Liquid-solid separation, usually in a sedimentation
tank.
• 3) A recycle system for returning solids removed from
the liquid-solids separation unit back to the reactor.
Besides an important feature of the activated sludge
process is the formation of flocculent settleable solids
that can be removed by gravity settling in sedimentation
tanks.
Wastewater characterization
Activated sludge process design requires
determining-
• The aeration basin volume
• The amount of sludge production
• The amount of oxygen needed and
• The effluent concentration of important
parameters
Key wastewater constituents
• Carbonaceous substrates
• Nitrogenous compounds
• Phosphorus compounds
• Total suspended solids (TSS)
• Volatile suspended solids (VSS)
• Alkalinity
Necessity of wastewater characterization
• Wastewater characterization is an important element in the
evaluation of existing facilities for optimizing performance
and available treatment capacity.
• Without comprehensive wastewater characterization, facilities
may either be under or overdesigned, resulting an inadequate
or inefficient treatment
Fundamentals of process analysis and control
• Selection of reaction type, • Nutrients requirements
• Applicable kinetic • Other chemical
relationships requirements
• Solid retention time and • Settling characteristics
loading criteria to be used
of biosolids
• Sludge production
• Use of selectors
• Oxygen requirement and
transfer • Effluent characteristics
General considerations for the selection of the type
of suspended growth reactor
Factor Description
Effect of reaction kinetics : The two type of reactors used commonly are the
complete-mix and plug flow reactor
Oxygen transfer : Oxygen transfer limitation can be overcome by
Requirements better selection of process operational parameter
and application of aeration equipments
Nature of wastewater : Alkalinity and pH are important. Low pH inhibit
growth of organisms hence pH adjustment needed
Local environmental : Temperature is an important factors that affects
Conditions treatment performance
Toxic or inhibitory : A large number of industrial connection, a
substances potential exists for receiving inhibitory substances
that can depress biological process.
Principal approaches to process control
To maintain high levels of treatment performance with the activated sludge
process under a wide range of operating conditions, special attention must be
given to process control.
The principal aaproaches to process control are-
1) Maintaining dissolved oxygen levels in the aeration tanks ,
2) Regulating the amount of return activated sludge (RAS)
3)Controling the waste –activated sludge (WAS)
Return activated sludge control
The purpose of the return of activated sludge is to maintain a sufficient
concentration of activated sludge in the aeration tank so that the required
degree of treatment can be obtained in the time interval desired.
The return of activated sludge from the final clarifier to the inlet of the
aeration tank is the essential feature of the process. Ample return sludge pump
capacity should be provided and is important to prevent the loss of sludge
solids in the effluent.
Processes for BOD removal and Nitrification
Three activated-sludge process design examples are provided to
demonstrate application of these fundamental principles to BOD
removal and nitrification processes.
1) A single-sludge complete-mix activated-sludge (CMAS)
process without and with nitrification
2)A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with nitrification
3) A staged nitrification process
1) Complete-Mix Activated Sludge process
Effluent from the primary sedimentation tank and recycled
return activated sludge are introduced typically at several points
in the reactor.
Because the tank contents are thoroughly mixed ,the organic
load, oxygen demand, and substrate concentration are uniform
throughout the entire aeration tank and the food to
microorganism ratio (F/M) is low.
Care should be taken to assure that the CMAS reactor is well
mixed and that influent feed and effluent withdrawal points are
selected to prevent short-circuiting of untreated and partially
treated wastewater.
2) Sequencing Batch Reactor process
The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process (SBR) utilizes a fill and draw
reactor with complete mixing during the batch reaction step (after filling) and
where the subsequent steps of aeration and clarification occur in the same
tank. All SBR systems have five steps in common, which are carried out in
sequence as follows:
Fill ,React (aeration), Settle (sedimentation/ clarification), draw
(decant),and idle
Operational step Description
Fill : During the fill operation, volume and substrate (Raw
wastewater or primary effluent are added to the reactor. The
fill process typically allows the liquid level in the reactor to
rise from 75% of capacity to 100%.During fill, the reactor
may be mixed only or mixed and aerated to promote
biological reactions with influent wastewater.
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Operational step Description
React : During the react period, the biomass consumes the substrate
under controlled environmental factors
Settle : Solids are allowed to separate from the liquid under
quiescent conditions, resulting in a clarified supernatant that
can be discharged as a effluent
Decant : Clarified effluent is removed during the decant period. Many
types of decanting mechanisms can be used, with the most
popular being floating or adjustable weirs.
Idle : An idle period is used in a multitank systems to provide time
for one reactor to complete its fill phase before switching to
another unit
3)Staged Activated-Sludge Process
In the conventional plug flow activated-sludge system, the tank
hydraulics and mixing regime may result in two to four effective
stages from the stand point of biological kinetics.
Activated-sludge processes can be designed with baffle walls to
intentionally create a number of complete-mix activated sludge
zones operating in series.
For the same reactor volume, reactors in series can provide
greater treatment efficiency than a single complete-mix reactor,
or provide a greater treatment capacity.
As a consequence, staged activated-sludge process configurations
are used at several full-scale installations.
Advantages and limitation of activated-sludge processes for
BOD removal and nitrification
Process Advantages Limitations
Complete mix Common, proven process Susceptible to filamentous
Adaptable to many types sludge bulking
of wastewater, uniform
oxygen demand
Conventional Proven process Design and operation for
Plug flow May achieve a somewhat tapered aeration is more
higher level of ammonia complex, may be difficult
removal than complete-mix to match oxygen supply
process, Adaptable to many and demand
operation schemes
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Process Advantages Limitations
High rate Requires less aeration tank Less stable operation,
volume than conventional Produces lower quality
plug flow, Uses less aeration effluent, Not suitable for
energy nitrification, Higher sludge
Production
Contact Requires smaller aeration volume, Has little or no nitrification
Stabilization Handles wet-weather flows capability, Operation
without loss of MLSS somewhat more complex
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Process Advantages Limitations
Step feed Provide uniform oxygen More complex operation,
demand, Flexible operation Flow split is not usually
measured or known accurately
Extended High quality effluent, Aeration energy is high.
aeration Relatively uncomplicated Adaptable mostly to small plant
Design and operation
Sequencing Process is simplified, Higher maintenance skills
batch reactor Pumping are not required, Required, High peak flows,
Operation is flexible Batch discharge may require
equalization prior to filtration
and disinfection
Biological Nitrogen-Removal processes
All of the biological nitrogen removal processes include an
aerobic in which biological nitrification occurs.
Some anoxic volume must also be included to provide biological
denitrification to complete the objective of total nitrogen removal
by oxidation NH4-N and and NO3-N reduction to nitrogen gas.
Types of suspended growth nitrogen-removal processes:
1)Single-sludge biological nitrogen removal process
2)Two-sludge biological nitrogen removal process
1) Single-sludge biological nitrogen removal process
The term single sludge means only one solids separation device (normally a
secondary clarifier ) is used in the process. The activated sludge tank may be
divided into different zones of anoxic and aerobic conditions and mixed liquor
may be pumped from one zone to another ( internal recycle), but the liquid
solids solid separation occurs only once.
Nitrate feed Secondary clarifier
Influent
Aerobic/
Effluent
Anoxic nitrification
Return activated sludge
Sludge
Fig: Single sludge biological nitrogen removal process
2)Two-sludge biological nitrogen removal process
In the two-sludge system, the most common system consists of an aerobic
process( for nitrification ) followed by an anoxic process (for denitrification),
each with its own clarifier, thus reducing two sludges. For postanoxic
denitrification, an organic substrate, usually methanol, must be added to create
a biological demand for the nitrate.
Methanol
Secondary
Nitrification Nitrification clarifier
Influent tank clarifier
Primary Mixer
clarifier Effluent
Return activated Sludge Sludge
sludge
Fig: Two-sludge systems
Advantages and limitations of nitrogen-removal process
Process Advantages Disadvantages
Preanoxic- Saves energy, BOD is removed
general before aerobic zone
Step feed Very adaptable to existing More complex operation
activated-sludge process Potential Narcotia growth
problem
Sequencing Processis flexible and easy More complex process
batch reactor to operate, Low effluent TSS design, Redundant units
concentration are required
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Process Advantages Disadvantages
Post anoxic with Capable of achieving Higher operating cost due
Carbon addition effluent nitrogen level to purchase of methanol
less than 3mg/L
Simultaneous Low effluent nitrogen Larger reactor volume
Nitrification/ and possible, Significant Skilled operation also
denitrification energy saving process required
