ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS ACTIVATED SLUDGE Activated sludge is a suspended-growth process Consists essentially of an aerobic treatment that oxidizes

es organic matter to CO2 and H2O, NH4 and new cell biomass Air is provided by diffused or mechanical aeration The microbial cells form flocs that are allowed to settle in a clarification tank. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS A. Conventional Activated Sludge Process Components 1. Aeration Tank Carries out aerobic oxidation of organic matter Primary effluent is introduced and mixed with return activated sludge (RAS) to form the mixed liquor Mixed liquor contains 1,500 2,500 mg/L suspended solids Sludge age is greater than the hydraulic retention time Large number of microorganisms oxidizes organic compounds in a relatively short time. Detention time = 4 to 8 hrs. 2. Sedimentation Tank Used for the sedimentation of the microbial flocs (sludge) Portion of the sludge is recycled back to aeration tank Parameters 1. Mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) Mixed liquor refers to the content of the aeration tank MLSS is the total amount of organic and mineral suspended solids, including microorganisms, in the mixed liquor Determined by filtering an aliquot of mixed liquor, drying the filter at 105oC, and determining the weight of solids in the sample. 2. Mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) MLVSS is composed of non-microbial organic matter as well as dead and live microorganism and cellular debris Determined by following heating of dried filtered samples at 600 to 650oC, MLVSS represents 65 75% of MLSS. 3. Food-to-microorganism ratio Indicates the organic load into the activated sludge system Expressed as kg BOD per kg MLSS per day

Q x BOD F / M = -----------------MLSS x V Where Q = flow rate of sewage in million liter per day BOD = 5 day biochemical oxygen demand, mg/L MLSS = mixed-liquor suspended solids V = volume of aeration tank, liters F/M = 0.2 0.5 gram BOD/gram MLSS (conventional) = 1.5 gram BOD/gram MLSS (high-purity oxygen) Low F/M ratio = microorganisms are starved; efficiency high 4. Hydraulic retention time HRT = average time spent by influent liquid in the aeration tank Reciprocal of dilution rate HRT = 1/D = V / Q Where V = volume of aeration tank Q = flow rate of influent wastewater into the aeration tank D = dilution rate 5. Sludge age Mean residence time of microorganisms in the system, days Reciprocal of microbial growth rate MLSS x V Sludge age = ----------------------------SSe x Qe x SSw x Qw Where V = volume of aeration tank SSe = suspended solids in wastewater effluent (mg/L) Qe = quantity of wastewater effluent SSw = suspended solids in wastewater wasted sludge (mg/L) Qw = quantity of wasted sludge (m3/ day) Sludge age = 5 to 15 days