Environmental Engineering -I

L-9
AERATION
UNIT-II
- BY PROF S S JAHAGIRDAR

INTRODUCTION

Aeration is used to remove tastes

and odours, and
to remove minerals such as iron
and manganese from water, and
to remove carbon dioxide from the
water.

OBJECTIVES OF AERATION

1. Removes taste and odours caused

due to organic gases.
2. Increases dissolved oxygen content
3. Removes Hydrogen Sulphide and
odour due to it.

4. Decreases CO2 content and raises

pH.
5. Removes Iron and Manganese.
6. Due to agitation bacteria may get
killed.
7. Can be used for mixing chemicals

HOW DOES AERATION WORK?

Aeration

is the intimate exposure of

water and air.
It is a way of thoroughly mixing the
air and water so that various
reactions can occur between the
components of the air and the
components of the water.

Scrubbing action
Oxidation

 Aeration

removes or modifies the

constituents of water using two
methods - scrubbing action and
oxidation. Scrubbing action is caused
by turbulence which results when the
water and air mix together. The
scrubbing action physically removes
gases from solution in the water,
allowing them to escape into the
surrounding air.

Scrubbing

action will remove tastes

and odors from water if the problem
is caused by relatively volatile
gases and organic compounds.
Oxidation is the other process
through which aeration purifies
water.

When air is mixed with water, some

impurities in the water, such as iron
and manganese, become oxidized.
Once oxidized, these chemicals fall
out of solution and become
suspended in the water.
The suspended material can then
be removed later in the treatment
process through filtration.

EFFICIENCY
The

efficiency of the aeration process

depends almost entirely on the amount of
surface contact between the air and
water.
This contact is controlled primarily by the
size of the water droplet or air bubble.
The goal of an aerator is to increase the
surface area of water coming in contact
with air so that more air can react with the
water.

IRON AND MANGANESE REMOVAL

Iron and manganese in well waters occur as soluble ferrous
and manganous bicarbonates. In the aeration process, the
water is saturated with oxygen to promote the following
reactions:
4Fe(HCO3)2 +
ferrous bicarb
onate

O2
oxygen

2H2O

= 4Fe(OH)3 - +

8CO2

water

ferric
hydroxide

carbon
dioxide

2Mn(HCO3)2

+ O2 =

2MnO2

manganese
bicarbonate

oxyg
en

manganese
dioxide

4CO2 carbon
dioxide

2H2O
water

The

oxidation products, ferric

hydroxide and manganese dioxide,
are insoluble.
After aeration, they are removed by
clarification or filtration.

TYPES OF AERATOR

1. Free fall or gravity aerator

i. Cascade aerator
ii. Inclined apron aerator
iii. Slat tray aerator
iv. Gravel bed aerator
2. Spray aerators
3. Air diffusers
4. Mechanical aerators

1. CASCADE AERATOR
Simplest

of free fall aerator

Can be constructed of concrete or
metal
Height is 1 to 3 m.
50 to 60% CO2 reduction

2. INCLINED APRON AERATOR WITH RIFFLE

PLATES
Water

falls along inclined

plane/apron.
Breaking up of water due to aprons
cause agitation
Agitation increases contact of air
and water

3. SLAT TRAY AERATOR

Consists

of closely stacked super

imposed wood slat-trays
Water is sprayed evenly on top tray.
Water trickles from one tray to the other.
Air is supplied at the bottom with the
help of blower (Air flow is in upward
direction).
Ventilator discharges air and gases

4. GRAVEL BED AERATOR

Water

is sprayed at the top and it

trickles down the bed of coke or
anthracite.
Thickness of bed is 1 to 1.5 m

TRICKLING BEDS
3-4

trays are kept filled with coke or

stone
Thickness of bed is 0.5 to 0.6 m
Distance between trays is 0.5m
Water is sprayed from distribution
pipe at the top.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Air diffusion is type of _______ system.
(chlorination/aeration/flocculation/sedimentation).

2. Iron and Manganese are removed by

____________ action in aeration.
3. ___________ aerator is commonly used in
water treatment plants.
4. Diffused and mechanical aerator are mostly
used in _____________ treatment.

THEORY QUESTIONS

Q1. Write note on objectives of

aeration. Also enlist types of
aerators. (Dec 2011, 5 marks)
Q2. Enlist different types of aerators
and discuss with neat sketch any
one in detail.