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CE 333

WASTE WATER ENGINEERING

Dr. MAHBUBOOR RAHMAN
CHOUDHURY
LECTURE ON~
MICROORGANISM

Bacteria

Important Organisms in
Biological Treatment

80%
Water

20%
Solid

BACTERIA
Single cell protists.
They use soluble food and in general are found
90%
10%
whenever
moisture and a food source are available.
Organic
Inorganic
Their usual mode of reproduction is by binary fission.
Bacteria are capable of storing food particles outside the cell by means of
extracellular enzymes and hence can remove soluble, colloidal and solid organic
matter from waste water.
Each type of bacteria lives and multiplies under specific environmental conditions.
Of the various environmental conditions, light, air, water, food, temperature, pH and
dissolved oxygen play very important part.
Among these, temp and pH play a vital role in the life and death of bacteria.
Rate of reaction will be doubled with about every 10 C of rise in temp.
Few bacteria can tolerate acid or alkaline conditions and most organisms (bacteria)
cannot tolerate pH levels above 9.5 or below 4.0.
Generally the optimum pH for growth lies between 6.5 and 7.5.

Classification of Bacteria

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1. DEPENDING ON TEMPERATURE
Temperature (C)
Type

Range

Optimum

Psychrophilic

-2 to 30

12 to 18

Mesophilic

20 to 45

25 to 40

Thermophilic

45 to 75

55 to 65

2. DEPENDING ON NEED FOR OXYGEN

Aearobic Oxygen is essential for oxidizing organic matter
Anaerobic Oxidation of OM occur in absence of oxygen
Facultative Can grow aerobically in presence of air as well as
anaerobically in absence of air.
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Classification of Bacteria
3. DEPENDING ON SHAPE
Rod shaped width 0.5 to 1.0 and length 1 to 3
Spherical diameter 0.5 to 1.0
Spiral width 0.5 to 5 and length 6 to 15
4. DEPENDING ON ENERGY & CARBON SOURCE FOR CELL SYNTHESIS
Based on source of Energy:
Phototrophs Uses energy from Sunlight.
Chemotrophs Obtains energy from chemical reaction.
Chemoorganotrophs Uses organic chemicals for energy.
Chemolithotrophs Uses inorganic chemicals for energy.
Based on source of Carbon:
Autotrophs Uses inorganic carbon, such as CO2 for cell synthesis.
Heterotrophs Uses organic compound for cell synthesis. Commonly:
Chemolithotrophs are Autotrophs, and Chemoorganotrophs are Heterotrophs.

Metabolism of Bacteria

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Bacterial
metabolism has
two component
parts:
Catabolism for
energy
Anabolism
synthesis.

for

One-third of BOD is used in catabolic reactions and two-thirds in anabolic

Metabolism of
Bacteria

reactions.
When a microorganism cell has depleted its
food reserves, it starts to oxidize itself, this
process
is
known
as
autolysis
(=selfdestruction), leads of course to
death.
Autolysis does not proceed to completion
since approximately 20-25% of the cell
mass is resistant to aerobic degradation

FUNGI

Multicellular, nonphotosynthetic, heterotrophic protists.

Most fungi are strict aerobes.

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Ability to grow under low moisture condition.

Can tolerate a relatively low pH range of 2 to 9, optimum is 5 to 6.

Survive in nitrogen limiting condition.

Important in biological treatment of some industrial waste.

Being relatively large and filamentous shape, fungi tends to settle poorly
and undesirable in biological treatment process.
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ALGAE

Algae are unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic photosyntehtic protists.

Undesirable in water supply for bad taste, odour and shorten filter run.
Aesthetically objectionable.
In waste stabilization ponds, algae are valuable to produce oxygen.
Reaction:
light
(1) Photosynthesis CO2 + 2H2O

CH2O
+ O2 + H2O
(new algae cell)
(2) Respiration
CH2O + O2 CO2 + H2O
Because algae use CO2 in photosynthetic activity, high pH conditional can result.

PROTOZOA

Protozoa are motile, microscopic protists that are usually single cells.

The majority of protozoa are aerobic heterotrophs, although a few are

anaerobic.

Protozoa are generally an order of magnitude larger than bacteria and often
consume bacteria as an energy source.

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The protozoa act as polishers of the effluents from biological

wastetreatment processes by consuming bacteria and particulate organic
matter.

The reproduce by binary fission.

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SOME OTHERS

ROTIFERS
Rotifers are aerobic, heterotrophic and multicellular.
Rotifers are very effective in consuming dispersed and flocculated bacteria,
protozoa and small particles of organic matter.
VIRUSES
Obligate parasites and requires a host to live in.
Causes various diseases.
During wastewater treatment, these are controlled by chlorination and
proper disposal of the plant effluent.
FISHES
BACTERIA -> ROTIFER -> FISH
When bacteria is flocculated, then they can be removed without
settlement. If rotifer is introduced there, then rotifer will consume
bacteria and fish consumes rotifer. So where there is rotifer, there is
fish also. Thus fish has significance in sewage treatment.
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Sewage

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Role of Bacteria in Sewage Treatment

Being capable of making food particles soluble outside the cell wall by
means of extracellular enzymes, bacteria can remove soluble, colloidal and
solid organic matter from wastewater.
Rod-shaped, facultative and mesophilic (20 to 45 degree centigrade)
bacteria is important in aerobic treatment.
Oxidize dead organic matter and grow extremely well in sewage.
Capable of exuding a slimy flocculent layer which in some treatment units
(e.g. activated sludge) is an important mechanism.
The end products of aerobic activity are CO2, H2O, SO4-2, NO3-, NH3 and
more bacteria.
Available energy is converted into either cell mass or heat, yielding a stable
effluent, which will not undergo further decomposition. And this indicates
the completion of treatment.

Role of Bacteria in Sewage Treatment

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Favorable Environment for Bacterial Growth

Sufficient nutrients should be available. Bacteria require relatively large

amounts of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen; smaller amounts of
phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium; and trace
quantities of several other elements (e.g. zinc, molybdenum).
Absence of toxic compounds (Chlorine compounds, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ag etc)
The environment itself is suitable, having the following conditionsNeutral pH (about 6.5-8.5 units)
Correct concentration of dissolved oxygen (zero for anaerobes;
a
minimum of 1-2 mg/l for aerobic growth) Temperature around 35 C.
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Typical Bacterial growth pattern

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Typical Bacterial growth pattern

(I) LAG PHASE
Cell numbers do not increase;
The bacteria are internally active, manufacture extra-cellular catalysts
(enzymes) required for oxidation of waste.
(II) EXPONENTIAL OR LOG PHASE
Logarithmic growth occurs.
Lay down food reserves within their cells for use in food deficient period.
Bacteria grow as fast as they are able to in the waste.
Log growth phase coincides with the maximum rate of substrate (waste)
removal, but not the optimum zone of operation for waste treatment systems.
In this phase food must be in ample supply, but a low concentration is desired
in the treated waste.
Maximum rate of utilization requires that other growth factors, such as
oxygen, be supplied at a maximum rate and this may be difficult to do.

Typical Bacterial growth pattern

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Finally, bacteria in the log growth phase have a great deal of energy available,
have limited accumulation of waste products, and hence are likely to be
dispersed, and difficult to remove by sedimentation.

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(III) DECLINING GROWTH PHASE

Food becomes the limiting factor in further growth.
This phase is generally used for biological treatment systems.
(IV) STATIONARY PHASE
The no. of new cells is approximately balanced by those that die Population
cell density does not change.
(V) DEATH PHASE
When death rate exceeds the growth rate; the culture enters the death phase. The
population density steadily declines.
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Typical Bacterial growth pattern

Figure: Bacterial growth pattern

During both the stationary and death phases there are a substantial proportion of
cells which neither die nor subdivide. They exist by utilizing the intracellular food
reserves laid down during exponential growth; this process is known as
endogenous respiration.
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Typical Bacterial growth pattern

(Relation between F/M ratio and Bio-mass Settling Characteristic)

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Growth Phase

Food : MO
ratio
(F/M)

Log

Very
High

Declining Growth
Stationary
Death

Waste
Removal
Rate

Bio-mass Settling
Characteristics

Maximum

Dispersed, Poor

Moderate

Good

Good

Low

Moderate

Very good

Very low

Negative

Autolysis
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Typical Bacterial growth pattern

(Relation between F/M ratio and Bio-mass Settling Characteristic)

Expression of OM concentration

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BOD

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Biodegradable organics and BOD

Biodegradable material consists of organics that can be utilized for food
by naturally occurring microorganisms within a reasonable length of
time. In dissolved form, these materials usually consist of starches,

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fats, proteins, alcohols, acids, aldehydes and esters. They may be the
end product of the initial microbial decomposition of plant or animal
tissue, or they may result from domestic or industrial wastewater
discharges. Although some of these materials can cause color, taste
and odor problems, the principal problem associated with
biodegradable organics is a secondary effect resulting from the action
of microorganisms on these substances.
The amount of oxygen consumed during microbial utilization of organics is
called BOD.
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Effect of oxygen on microbial decomposition

Microbial utilization of dissolved organics can be accompanied by oxidation
(addition of oxygen to, or the deletion of hydrogen from, elements of the
organic molecule) or by reduction (addition of hydrogen to, or the deletion
of oxygen from, elements of the organic molecule). Although it is possible
for the two processes to occur simultaneously, the oxidation process is by
far more efficient and is predominant when oxygen is available.
In aerobic (oxygen-present) environments, the end products of microbial
decomposition of organics are stable and acceptable compounds. Anaerobic
(oxygen-absent) decomposition results in unstable and objectionable end
products. The oxygen demanding nature of biodegradable organics is of
utmost importance in natural water systems. When oxygen utilization occurs
more rapidly than oxygen can be replenished by transfer from the
atmosphere, anaerobic conditions that severely affect the ecology of the
system will result.
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First Stage BOD Equation

(2nd stage BOD: When nitrogenous BOD starts., not
much important for us)

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Comparison of Oxygen demand and BOD remaining with

respect to time

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Yt = L0 (1-e-kt)
Here, Yt represents the BOD at any

BOD is equal to the initial oxygen

demand of the water L0.

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BOD and Oxygen

equivalent relationship

time t of the water. The value of yt

approaches
L0
asymptotically,
indicating that the total or ultimate

Changes in OM during biological oxidation of sewage

under aerobic conditions

CARBONACEOUS AND NITROGENOUS MATTER

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The rate at which organics are utilized by microorganisms is assumed to

be a first order reaction; that is the rate at which organics utilized is
proportional to the amount available. Mathematically, this can be
expressed as follows:

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Illustration of carbonaceous and nitrogenous BOD

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BOD exertion as
a function of
reaction constant
k
The
value
of
k
determines the speed of
the
BOD
reaction
without influencing the
magnitude
of
the
ultimate
BOD.
Numerical values of k
range from 0.1~ 0.5 per day depending on the nature of the organic molecules.
Simple compounds such as sugars and starches are easily utilized by the
microorganisms and have a high k rate, while complex molecules such as
phenols are difficult to assimilate and have low k values.
kT = k20T-20
A value of 1.047 for is often used although is known to vary somewhat with
temperature ranges.
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Example problem: BOD -1

The BOD and O2 equivalent relation at 20C of Dhanmondi Lake is shown in the
following diagram, Find,
(a) BOD5
(b) K at 30C
(c) time when fish start to die, if they requires minimum 4mg/ l O2 to survive in the
water and,
(d) Ultimate O2 demand.

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Example Problem2, 3, 4
Example 2: The 5-day
BOD of a sewage is 200
mg/L. If k1=0.17d-1.
Find the ultimate BOD?

BOD and O2 equivalent relationship

10

250

200

150

100

y = 9e -0.23x

50

0
0

10

15

20

Time, days

Example 3: A sample of sewage was incubated for 2 days and

the BOD of the sample was observed to be 165 ppm at 20C.
Determine its 5-day 20C and 10-day 20C BOD values.
Assume k1 (20C) = 0.17d-1.
Example 4: The BOD5 of wastewater is determined to be 150
mg/L at 20C. The k-value is known to be 0.23 per day. What
would BOD8 be if the test were run at 15C?
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COD

Chemical Oxygen Demand

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of a sewage or wastewater is the amount of oxygen
required for the oxidation of readily oxidized carbonaceous organic matter present in the
sewage or wastewater and it is determined by chemical digestion of the sewage of
wastewater with a strong oxidizing agent in acid solution. Hence it is a measure of
readily oxidizeable carbonaceous organic matter present in the sewage or wastewater
and gives an idea about the polluting strength of the sewage and wastewater. The test
is limited in use as it does not give the total oxygen needed for chemical oxidation of all
organic matter. However, COD test is conducted for appropriate determination of organic
matters present in the sewage and wastewater and has the merit of its simplicity and
gives quick results.

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