Wastewater Treatment

Roslinda Seswoya
 Secondary treatment (biological process)

Biological processes are the most important unit operations in wastewater

treatment. Because the success of biological processes depends on the
environment provided by treatment units, design engineers need a basic
understanding of factors affecting the growth of mixed cultures.

The stabilization of organic material (pollutant) is accomplished by

microbes which convert colloidal and dissolved organic matter into gases
and protoplasm.
organic material + Microbes Gases + new cell
(colloidal & dissolved) (protoplasma)

major requirements for microbial growth is organic, will

a) A terminal electron acceptor be measured
b) Macronutrients: as BOD in the
i) Carbon to build cells
effluent.
ii) Nitrogen to build cells
iii) Phosporus for ATP (energy carrier) and DNA
c) Micronutrients has a specific gravity
i)Trace metals slightly greater than
ii) Vitamins (required for some bacteria water, it can be
d) Appropriate environment removed from the
i) Moisture treated liquid by
ii) Temperature gravity settling.
iii) pH
Aerobic Decomposition
• Occurs in the presence of oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor

organic matter + O2  CO2 + H2O + newcell

Large production because large amount of energy released

• aerobic decomposition generates a large production of sludge (dead and living

cells).Therefore, it is suitable for low strength wastewater (ie < 500 mg/l BOD)
because decomposition is rapid, efficient and has a low odor potential.

• For high strength w/w (>1000 mg/l BOD), aerobic decomposition is not
suitable because of difficulty in supplying of enough oxygen and also because
of the amount of sludge produced.
Anoxic Decomposition (nitrate reduction)

• A biological process in which a certain group of microorganisms use

chemically combined oxygen such as that found in nitrate (NO-3).

 NO-3 is used as the terminal electron acceptor in the absence of molecular

oxygen. (Anoxic = absence of DO but presence in NO-3).

These organisms consume organic matter to support life functions. They

use organic matter, combined oxygen from nitrate, and nutrients to produce
nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, water and new cell materials

2NO-3 + 2H+  N2 + 2.5 O2 + H2O + new cell

 Anaerobic Decomposition (AnD)

When the NO2-3 are finished, strict anaerobic conditions occur

Here, sulfates are used and reduced to sulfides

Sulfate reduction bacteria

and CO2 is converted into methane (CH4) methanogenesis-

hydrogenotrophic methanogen

acetotrophic methanogen
Figure 4. 18 Anaerobic digester
•The anaerobic decomposition of organic matter considered to be a three-step
process (Figure 4. 19):

1. Hydrolysis of waste.

2. Acidogenesis
(fermentation) and
acetogenesis –
Conversion of complex
organic compounds to
low-molecular fatty
acids (volatile acids).

3. Methanogenesis -
Conversion of
organic acids to
methane.
Figure 4. 19 Processes in anaerobic degradation
Figure 4. 15 Differences between aerobic and anaerobic
decomposition of wastewater
Figure 4. 16 Differences between aerobic and anaerobic
decomposition in terms of COD balance
Secondary treatment :
aerobic decomposition
 Figure 4. 21 Typical Activated Sludge Process

Figure 4. 22 Completely mixed biological reactor with solid recycle

Example 4.3
A conventional activated sludge plant without primary clarification operates under
the following conditions:

Design flow : 8100 m3/d

Influent BOD : 185 mg/L
Suspended Solids : 212 mg/L
Aeration basins : 4 units, 12 m square x 4.5 m deep
Mixed liquor Suspended solid : 2600 mg/L
Recirculation flow : 3800 m3/d
Waste sludge quantity : 150 m3/d
Suspended solids in waste sludge : 8600 mg/L
Effluent BOD : 15 mg/L
Suspended Solids : 15 mg/L
Calculate :
(a) Aeration period
(b) BOD loading
(c) Return activated sludge age
(d) F/M ratio
(e) suspended solids and BOD removal efficiencies
(f) Sludge age
Solution:

(a) Aeration period

Aeration basin volume = 4 units X ( 12m x 12m x 4.5m)

= 2592 m3
Aeration period, t = V/Q
= 2592 m3/ 8100 m3/d
= 7.7 hr

(b) BOD loading = (Q x Concentration BOD )/ Volume

= (8100 m3/d x 185 mg/L)/ 2592 m3
= 578 g/m3/day

(c) Return activated sludge = (Recirculation flow/Q) x 100

= (3800 m3/d/8100 m3/d) x 100
= 47 %

(d) F/M ratio = (Q x Concentration BOD )

Volume x Mixed liquor suspended solid
= (8100 m3/d x 185 mg/L)
(2592 m3 x 2600 mg/L)
= 0.22 g BOD/day
g MLSS
 (e) Suspended solids removal = (212 – 15) x 100 = 93 %
212
BOD removal = 185 – 15 x 100 = 92 %
185

(f) Sludge age

SS in the effluent = Q x Concentration SS
= 8100 m3/d x 15 mg/l
=121 kg/d

SS in waste activated sludge = Qsludge x Concentration SS Sludge

=150 m3/d x 8600 mg/l
= 1290 kg/d

Sludge age = V x Mixed liquor suspended solid

a measure of the length of SS effluent + SS activated sludge
time a particle of
= (2592 m3 x 2600 mg/l )
suspended solids is
retained in the activated 121 kg/d + 1290 kg/d
sludge process, (d). = 4.8 days

Sludge age (c) = mean cell residence time (c) = solid retention time (SRT)
Longer sludge age (c) would resutt in bigger tank and longer aeration time ( power consumption)
Example 4.4 (not available in Modul )

A sewage treatment plant generated 2000 m3/d of wastewater each day. The
average BOD5 of the raw wastewater before primary settling is 1500 mg/L.
The aeration tank has effective dimensions of 6.0 m wide by 10.0 m long by
6.0 m deep. The activated sludge plant operating parameters are as follows;

(i) BOD5 after primary settling = 950 mg/L

(ii) MLVSS = 2100 mg/L
(iii) MLVSS/MLSS = 0.75
(iv) Settled sludge volume after 30 minutes = 250 mg/L

Determine;
(i) BOD5 loading
(ii) The aeration period
(iii) The food to micro-organism ratio (F/M ratio)
(iv) The sludge volume index (SVI)
(v) The percentage of BOD5 removal
Solution:

i) BOD loading = Q (m3/d) x Concentration of BOD (mg/L)

Volume
= 2000 m3/day x 1500 mg/L
( 6 m x 10 m x 6 m)
= 8,333.33 g/m3.day = 8.33 kg/m3.day

ii) Aeration period = V/Q

= 360m3/ 2000 m3/d
= 0.18 day
= 4.32 hours

iii) F/M ratio = QS/VX = 2000 m3/day x 1100 mg/L

360 m3 x 2100 mg/L
= 2.9

iv) SVI = Sludge volume x 1000 mg/g

MLSS

if MLSS = MLVSS/0.75 = 2100 mg/L /0.75 = 2800 mg/L then

SVI is used to control the rate of sludge
SVI = 250 mg/L x 1000 mg/g = 89.3 mg/g return to the reactor basin in activated
2800 mg/L sludge process
A wastewater treatment plant to treat wastewater to meet effluent standard
of 25 mg/L BOD and 30 mg/L suspended solids. The treatment plant flow
rate is 0.029 m3/s. The effluent from the primary tank has BOD of 240 mg/L.
Using the following assumptions, estimate the required volume of the
aeration tank;

i. BOD of effluent suspended solids is 70% of the allowable suspended

solids concentration

Given:
a. Ks = 100 mg/L BOD
b. Kd = 0.025 /d,
c. µm = 10/d,
d. Y = 0.8 mg VSS/mg BOD5
e. MLVSS = 3000 mg/L
Secondary treatment :aerobic decomposition
Stabilization Ponds (SPs)

• The ponds can be used individually or in series of an

anaerobic, facultative and aerobic (maturation) pond.
• SPs are low-cost of operation and maintenance (O & M)
and BOD and pathogen removal is high.
• However, large surface areas and expert design are
required.
• The effluent still contains nutrients (e.g. N and P) and is
therefore appropriate for the reuse in agriculture
(irrigation) or aquaculture (e.g. fish- or macrophyte
ponds) but not for direct recharge in surface waters.
Secondary treatment :aerobic decomposition
 Biological treatment :
attached growth system

employ reactors in which wastewater is contacted with microbial films

attached to surfaces
 Biological treatment :
attached growth system

Figure 4. 24 Attachment of biofilm to support media

Trickling Filter
 Advantages
a) Small land area required compared to Constructed
Wetlands.
b) Can be operated at a range of organic and hydraulic
loading rates.

 Disadvantages/limitations –
a) High capital costs and moderate operating costs
b) Requires expert design and construction.
c) Requires constant source of electricity and constant w/w
flow.
d) Flies and odours are often problematic.
e) Not all parts and materials may be available locally.
f) Pre-treatment is required to prevent clogging.
g) Dosing system requires more complex engineering.
Rotating distribution arm sprays primary effluent over circular bed of rock or
other coarse media. Air circulates in pores between rocks and “biofilm”
develops on rocks and micro-organisms degrade waste materials as they flow
past. Organisms slough off in clumps when film gets too thick
Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC)
In the RBC, the medium
moves the biofilm alternately
through water and air
 Septic tank
• is system most common for individual residences where sewers and a
centralized wastewater treatment system are not available
• Basis for design is empirical
• Tank must be “pumped” to remove solids every 1-3 years
• Drain field replacement may be required
• must pass percolation test
• - soil type
- rate of water infiltration
- depth to water table
• Design specifications
- Tank volume and number
of chambers
- Drain field size
- Drain field materials