Biological Treatment Process: EB
A process consists of the application of a controlled natural
process in which microorganisms remove soluble and
colloidal organic matters from the waste water and are in turn
removed themselves.
Most domestic and industrial effluents are heterogeneous,
and contain both dissolved and suspended matters, both
organic and inorganic. Treatment of such effluent or
wastewater involves the removal of contaminants to prevent
any adverse effects on the receiving water or allow its reuse.
Requirement of biological treatment
Biological treatment or secondary treatment mainly
based on: The catabolic activities of microbes including
bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, rotifers and nematodes.
Principle requirements of secondary treatment include:
1. adequate supply of microbes,
2. ensuring the contact of bacteria with influent
3. oxygen availability.
Requirement of biotreatment Con’t.
Secondary treatment or biotreatment usually
applied in:
4. Controlled environment or bioreactor (offers
possibility of shortening the treatment time).
5. Although there could be natural system of treatment in
lagoons and stabilization ponds, using both the microbes
and higher plants.
Techniques used in biological treatment:
1. Attached film growth → like trickling filter.
2. Suspended growth process → like activated
sludge.
Principles of suspended growth
Raw wastewater flowing into the biological reactor
(aerated tank) containing organic matter (BOD) as a food
supply.
Bacteria metabolize the waste solids, producing new
growth while taking in dissolved oxygen and releasing
CO2.
Protozoa graze on bacteria for energy to reproduce.
Some of the new microbial growth dies releasing cell
contents, to solution for resynthesis.
Principle of suspended growth Con’t…
After the addition of a large population of microorganisms,
aerating raw wastewater for a few hours removes organic
matter from solution by synthesis into microbial cells.
Mixed liquor (ML), is continuously transferred to a clarifier
for gravity separation of the biological floc and discharge of
the calrifiered effluent.
Settled floc (activated sludge) is returned continuously to the
aeration basin for mixing with entering raw waste as a seed or
inoculums
Illustration of Activated sludge process.
Transfer of dissolved oxygen (DO) in aeration basin:
The DO transfer to the waste in a two step process:
The air bubbles are created by compressed air forced
through submerged diffuser.
Mechanical aeration where turbulent mixing entrains
air in the liquid.
Process variables used in control of the biological processes:
The used process variables that may be applied in control of the biological
treatment are:
. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) or aeration period:
1
This is the average time spent by the influent sewage in the
aeration basin tank. It is calculated as the tank volume (m3)
divided by the flow rate:
Process variables used in control of the biological processes:
Process variables used in control of the
biological processes:
Advantages of biological treatment plant:
Fast treatment or removal of sewage.
High rate of BOD removal, up to 95% of BOD5 and 98% of
bacteria particularly coli form and 95% of suspended solids.
Good settlement of sludge in clarifier.
Low rate of sludge production.
Minimal aeration costs.
High quality effluent – low in BOD suspended solid.
Attached film growth (Trickling Filter):
This filter is a bed of crushed stone, or gravel to which the
settled sewage is applied in by sprinkling on the surface of
the filter medium.
The organic matter is absorbed and oxidized when passes
through the filter medium containing microbial slim layer.
Attached film growth.
Constituents of trickling filter:
Filter tank (rectangular or circular constructed of
concrete).
Filter media are generally crushed stones or rocks,
and plastic. The rock bed (1-3 m depth)
the influent pipes (the influent is sprinkled or sprayed
over a biological film or slime or rocks)
distributors (rotary distributors or fixed – spray
nozzles)
Principles of operation:
The influent wastewater sprinkled over a biological
film or slim
As the liquid trickles through the biofilm, and while
O2 and organic matter (suspended and dissolved
solids) diffuse in biofilm. Microbial metabolisms
convert the organic matter into CO2 and NO2.
When the slim layer gets thickened, it is
automatically sloughed or removed and settles in
settling tank.
Principle of operation
Microbial biofilm contains: bacteria (Flavobacterium,
Pseudomonas,
Alcaligens, and others) algae, fungi, protozoa, yeasts.
The waste treated in Trickling filters:
1. Milk processing 2. Domestic sewage 3. Pharmaceuticals
waste 4. Paper mill wastes.
Difference between activated sludge and trickling filter:
Sample Questions
