Investigation on the Activated Sludge Method of Water Purifying

Extended Essay 2008

Contents Page (s) Abstract .3 Aim4 Hypothesis.4 Background Information..4-7 Variables....7 Method....7-12 Data Collection.......12-15 Data Analysis..16-17 Evaluation...17-19 Conclusion....20 Uncertainties.20 Bibliography. 20-21

Abstract

In this essay I made researches and experiments about activated sludge which is a biological wastewater purifying system. The colonies of microorganisms in the sludge decrease toxic matters during their life process. In this microorganisms population while one type of colony is producing food, the other colony purifies water. Organisms of activated sludge form a mutualism population. I chose this topic because of decreasing resources of drinkable water. The activated sludge method is environmentalist and also its water sludge doesnt contain toxic matters. Several experiments were made to calculate the purifying success of activated sludge. Zinc, aluminum, sulfate, cadmium are some examples of these analysis.

Research question: How do the activated sludge, which is the name given to the active biological material, affect on water purification in industry?
Aim Nowadays world is struggling with global warming problem. And as a result of warming drinkable water resources are decreasing day by day. To overcome this problem more water recycle processes should be considered. For saving limited resources or producing new ones water purification is the most necessarily thing. Biological water purification is used for purifying both industrial and domestic waste water. In my research I aimed to find out affect of activated sludge method of biological water purifying. Additional to the finding of yield of purifying is the outgoing water suitable for daily usage? Hypothesis The organism of activated sludge decreases water pollutants by secreting enzymes or taking them inside of organism. The organisms in activated sludge have a high purifying efficiency on water pollutant matters. Background information Activated sludge is mostly used to name the process of treatment industrials wastewater and sewage. During purifying process continuously oxygen pumped into the pool. The pumped oxygen aerates the organic floc of the system. In all activated sludge plants, once the sewage has received sufficient treatment, excess mixed liquor is discharged into settling tanks and the supernatant is run off to undergo further treatment before discharge. Part of the settled material, the sludge, is returned to the head of the aeration system to re-seed the new sewage entering the tank. The remaining sludge is further treated prior to disposal.

Activated sludge is also the name given to the active biological material produced by activated sludge plants and which affects all the purification processes. This material, which in healthy sludge is a brown floc, is largely composed off saprophytic bacteria but also has an important protozoan flora mainly composed of amoebae, Spirotrichs, Peritrichs including Vorticellids and a range of other filter feeding species. Other important constituents include motile and sedentary Rotifers. In poorly managed activated sludge, a range of mucilaginous filamentous bacteria can develop including Sphaerotilus natans which produces a sludge that is difficult to settle and can result in the sludge blanket decanting over the weirs in the settlement tank to severely contaminate the final effluent quality. This material is often described as sewage fungus but true fungal communities are relatively uncommon. These organisms destroy the toxic matter by using them for their life process. They change these matters into different molecules by secreting enzyme to outside or taking these materials inside of cell. All of organism population destroys specific matter.

Figure1: Amoebae cells

Figure2: Vorticella colony 5

Figure3: Sphaerotilus natans

Figure4: a Rotifer cell

Figure5: a Spirotrichs cell Mainly the activated sludge plants contain two parts. In the first part, which called aeration part, the oxidizing and main purifying occurs. In the second part, which is called final clarifier, the settling process occurs. The biological floc settle down and the purified water taken from surface in this tank. The activated sludge decreases the amount of toxic matter such as cadmium, chrome, copper, lead, etc.

Diagram1: a generalized diagram of activated sludge process. Variables I took all of my data in one day because of probability of changing variables in sample water. There could be still bacterias of activated sludge bacterias or some other bacterias could be reproduced in unpurified water. The day that I have performed my experiment was rainy. Rain has acidic or basic characteristics, which depends on other compounds in air, it could affect on pH of water in purifying process, because biological purifying method with activated sludge has huge open aired tanks. Also this rain could affect the activity of activated sludge by changing oxygen amount of tank. This changing has a probability of shift metabolism rate of microbiological organisms. Method Due to the risk of high toxic level in waste water I performed all experiments in Renault waste water purifying plant. Firstly I took same sample from industrial waste entrance, domestic waste water entrance and purified water out with help of component person. During testes spectrophotometer is used with different wavelength according to analyzing matter. I performed all testes with a HACH DR 2000 spectrophotometer.

Aluminum analyzing: Firstly arrange the program code 10 on spectrophotometer then make the wavelength 522nm. Prepare 50ml waste water solution with one packet of acid ascorbique and one packet of AluVer3. Separate these solutions into two equal parts into 25ml of spectrophotometers container. Add one packet of Bleaching 3 into one of these containers. Name this one as reference sample. Firstly record reference samples values on spectrophotometer then measure the amount of aluminum in mg/l of sample. Cadmium analyzing: Enter the program code of cadmium as 60 on spectrophotometer then make the wavelength 515nm. Put 250ml of sample that taken from basin entrances in analyzing funnel. Add one packet of Tampon Citrate, 0.1gr KCN and 20 ml of 0.5M NaOH into funnel. On the other hand prepare 30 ml of Chloroforme and one packet of DithiVer in 100ml beaker. Pour this solution into analyzing funnel and mixed it. By the aid of a piece of cotton that needs to be placed into bottom of funnel. Filter this solution into a spectrophotometers container by opening the tap of funnel. Also add 25ml chloroform into another container and name this one as reference solution. Record reference solution on spectrophotometer and measure the amount of cadmium in mg/l of sample. Chloride analyzing: Change the program code of spectrophotometer as 70 then make the wavelength of spectrophotometer as 455nm. Pour one of the spectrophotometers container 25ml distilled water and pour other one 25ml sample. Add both containers 2ml of Thiocyanate Hg and 1ml Solution ferrique. Solution with distilled water is reference solution. Record the reference solution then measure the amount of chloride in sample with a unit of mg/l Chrome+6 ions analyzing: Arrange the program code 90 on spectrophotometer and change its wavelength as 540nm. Take 25ml of sample into both spectrophotometers containers. Add one of them one

packet of ChromaVer3. Firstly record reference sample which has no additional chemicals. Then measure the Crom+6 ions amount in sample with a unit of mg/l. Total Chrome analyzing: Enter the program code 100 on spectrophotometer and make the wavelength as 540nm. Pour 25ml of sample into two spectrophotometer containers. Add both of them one packet of Chromium 1. Place one of these containers into hot water place other container into cold water and put one packet of Reactif acide and one packet of ChromaVer3. The spectrophotometers container in hot water is reference sample. Record its value on spectrophotometer then place other sample and measure its total chrome amount with a unit of mg/l. Copper analyzing: Change the program code as 135 of spectrophotometer and make its wavelength as 560nm. Take 25ml samples into spectrophotometers containers. Add one packet of CuVer1 into one of these containers. The sample without any additional chemical is reference sample. Record its value on spectrophotometer then measure amount of copper metal in water. The unit of result is mg/l. Total iron analyzing: Enter the program code of iron as 265 and change the wavelength of spectrophotometer as 510nm. Take two 25ml of sample into spectrophotometers containers. Add one packet of FerroVer One of these containers. The sample without any chemical is reference. Record its value on spectrophotometer. Then put other solution and measure its iron amount. The unit of result is mg/l. Fluoride analyzing: Arrange the program code as 190 on spectrophotometer and make the wavelength as 580nm. Fill one spectrophotometers container with 25ml of distilled water and fill other one with 25ml of sample. Add 5ml pf SPANDS both of containers. Record the valve f solution 9

with distilled water as reference on spectrophotometer. Measure the amount of fluoride in sample. Its unit will be again mg/l. MeS (Hanging Solid Objects) analyzing: Adjust the program ode of 630 on spectrophotometer and make the wavelength of spectrophotometer as 810nm.put into one container 25ml distilled water and put other one 25ml sample. Mix sample during one minute. Distilled water is reference. Record its value and put sample in spectrophotometer to measure its hanging solid objects. The result is in mg/l. Nickel analyzing: Change the program code of nickel as 340 and make the wavelength as 560nm. Take 25ml of sample and 25ml of distilled water. Firstly add one packet of Phatalate-PO4 both containers and mix them during 10 seconds. Secondly add 1ml of PAN into them and mix them during 10 seconds. Wait the time completion on spectrophotometer and add one packet of EDTA into solution at the end of time. Solution that prepared with distilled water is reference sample. Record its value on spectrophotometer then put other container to measure its nickel amount. The result is in mg/l again. Phosphorus analyzing: Adjust the program with code of 496 on spectrophotometer and make the wavelength as 890nm. Take 25ml of sample in spectrophotometers container. Add one packet of PhosVer3 into sample. Then record the reference solution which is pure water. Then record the value of samples phosphorus amount. The result is in mg/l again. Lead analyzing: Adjust the program code as 280 on spectrophotometer and make the wavelength 515nm. Take 250ml sample in 500ml funnel. Add one packet of Tampon citrate into funnel. On the other hand prepare 50ml of Chloroforme with adding 1 tablet of DithiVerin 100 ml beaker. Take 30ml of this solution and 5ml of 5N NaOH and add them into funnel. Then add 10

1.0gr KCN into these funnel. Filter this solution by the aid of a piece of cotton. Separately prepare 25ml chloroforme in a spectrophotometers container. This solution is reference. Record its value on spectrophotometer then measure the amount of lead of sample solution by putting it in spectrophotometer. The results unit is in mg/l. Sulfate analyzing: Change the program code of spectrophotometer as 680 and make the wavelength 450nm. Take two 25ml sample and add one packet of Selfa Ver 4 into one of them. Name the sample without chemical as reference. Record its value on spectrophotometer then put other solution in spectrophotometer. Measure its sulfate amount in sample in mg/l. Zinc analyzing: Enter the code 780 for zinc analyzing program and make the wavelength of spectrophotometer as 620nm.take 50 ml of sample and add 1 packet of Zinco Ver 5 into it. Separate 25ml of this solution and name it as reference. Add 1ml of Cyclohexanone into other 25ml of solution. Record value of reference solution on spectrophotometer then measure zinc amount in mg/l. pH analyzing: It is the easiest analyzing. During this analyzing pH meter is used. To measure the pH of sample insert the pH electrodes into sample and wait the stabilizing of display. Chemical Oxygen Demand analyzing: Firstly open DOC reactor and arrange its temperature as 150C. Fill one of DCO test tubes with 2ml of distilled water and fill other one with 2ml of sample. Heat them during 2 hours and at the end of 2 hours wait to decrease its temperature to 120C then take out these test tubes. By using DCO adapter place them in spectrophotometer. Enter 435 as program code and make the wavelength as 620nm. Record the value of distilled water as reference and measure the DCO of sample in mgO2/l

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DBO5 analyzing: It required special BOD analyzing kits and this test contains a five days waiting in incubator. I started this experiment with an authorized person and the manager of purifying center send results with e-mail. Data Collection pH: I made pH testing of sample quickly. After testing one sample I cleaned pH electrodes with distilled water. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 6.95 - Domestic entrance: 6.34 - Purified water out: 8.2 MeS: This test was one of the safest analyses because I didnt use any chemical matter. According to me the results are with very limited error. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 264mg/l - Domestic entrance: 296mg/l - Purified water out: 55mg/l DCO: While I was analyzing DOC of sample I didnt prepared any solution because there were prepared solutions in DOC tubes. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 706mgO2/l - Domestic entrance: 542mgO2/lj - Purified water out: 136mgO2/l DBO5: - Industrial entrance: 235mgO2/l - Domestic entrance: 181mgO2/l - Purified water out: 45mgO2/l Zn: I could perform easily because it was a simple. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 1.07mg/l 12

- Domestic entrance: 0.13mg/l - Purified water out: 0.38mg/l Pb: While I was performing this test supervisor again helped me because of chloroforme. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.244mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0mg/l - Purified water out: 0.106mg/l Fe: This test was one of the easy analysis because its steps is simple and there were no dangerous materials. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.19mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0.29mg/l - Purified water out: 0.10mg/l Cd: During this testing I performed with supervisor from purifying center because chloromforme anesthetic substance that could cause blackout. Also I need gloves to make this experiment because CN compounds are high toxic matter. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.004mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0mg/l - Purified water out: 0.001mg/l Al: While I was performing this analyzing I was careful about AluVer 3 chemical because it could cause injuries on respiration ways. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.055mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0mg/l - Purified water out: 0.32mg/l Ni: There were no harmful compounds that used in this analysis. I have decreased the concentration of industrial solution into limits that spectrophotometer could measure. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 6.992mg/l 13

- Domestic entrance: 0.14mg/l - Purified water out: 0.221mg/l Cr+6: Chrome is a risky element for respiration way. I have avoided breathing ChromaVer3 which contains Cr atoms. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.14mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0mg/l - Purified water out: 0.0092mg/l Cr total: This test also contains ChromaVer3 so I take same precautions. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.16mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0mg/l - Purified water out: 0.0192mg/l Cu: I was ease during this experiment because there are no risky matters. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 1.74mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0.15mg/l - Purified water out: 0.13mg/l F: The SPANDS is a hazardous acid so I used gloves during this test. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 1.27mg/l - Domestic entrance: 0.02mg/l - Purified water out: 0.7558mg/l P: During analyses of domestic waste water solution concentration was very higher than measurable value so I diluted it into half concentration and then I have calculated the result by two. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 0.54mg/l - Domestic entrance: 2.5mg/l - Purified water out: 0.64mg/l

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SO4: It was one of the simplest tests. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 54mg/l - Domestic entrance: 33mg/l - Purified water out: 43mg/l Cl: This analyzing didnt contain risky compounds. I did all steps cautiously and find these results: - Industrial entrance: 404.7mg/l - Domestic entrance: 535.5mg/l - Purified water out: 414.4mg/l

Data table 1: the results of analyses

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Data Analysis Aluminum: totally 0.55mg/l entered the activated sludge and 0.23mg/l decreased. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.23/0.55%41.82 Cadmium: totally 0.004mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 0.003mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.003/0.004%75.00 Chloride: totally 937.2mg/l entered to clarification and the activated sludge decreased 522.8mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 522.8/937.2%55.78 Chrome+6 ions: totally 0.14mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 0.1308mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.1308/0.14%93.43 Total chrome: totally 0.16mg/l entered to clarification and the activated sludge decreased 0.1408mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.1408/0.16%88.00 Copper: totally 1.89mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 1.76mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 1.76/1.89%93.08 Total iron: totally 0.48mg/l entered to purifying and activated sludge decreased 0.38mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.38/0.48%79.17 Fluoride: totally 1.29mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 0.5342mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.5342/1.29%41.41 MeS: totally 560mg/l entered the biological purifying reactor and the activated sludge decreased 505mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 505/560%90.18 Nickel: totally 7.132mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 6.991 mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 6.911/7.132%96.90 Phosphorus: totally 3.04mg/l entered to purifying process and the activated sludge decreased 2.4mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 2.4/3.04%78.95 Lead: totally 0.244mg/l entered to pool and the activated sludge decreased 0.138mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.138/0.244%56.56 Sulfate: totally 87mg/l entered and the activated sludge decreased 44mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 44/87%50.57 Zinc: totally 1.2mg/l entered to system and the activated sludge decreased 0.82mg/l. Its cleaning efficiency is 0.82/1.2%68.33 pH: there is no efficiency calculation for pH. But in both entrance acidic water entered. The organisms of activated sludge made the pH of water basic.

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DBO5: according to the given data by an authorized person of purifying center its amount was totally 416mgO2/l and the activated sludge decreased 371mgO2/l. Its efficiency is %89.18. DCO: according to test results total amount of it was 1248mgO2/l and the activated sludge decreased 1112mgO2/l. Its efficiency is %89.10.

Data table 2: the results of purifying efficiency on matters

Evaluation pH: normally purifying process aim to make pH around 7. In normal conditions, which there are no external factors, the activated sludge population is arranged to provide water with pH around 7. But during analyzing day early in the morning it started to rain heavily. It was a surprise for purifying center. The system was arranged for summer conditions, so on the test day water has a basic pH. MeS: this type of water pollution could be observed with naked eye. It causes to blur water. It unwanted situation for purified water. All unsolved solid objects is in this category.

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The organism of activated sludge destroys these objects by secreting enzymes outside or taking these particles inside of cell. Cd: cadmium has very harmful effects for environment. Eating food or drinking water with very high levels severely irritates the stomach, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cadmium mainly accumulates in the kidneys and liver. Also the central purifying center, which decides acceptable values of matters in water, attach important about this pollution very much. It has the lowest limit in mg/l which is 0.1. Although the entered amount was 0.004mg/l, the purifying center cleaned it %75 to provide environment. Pb: lead it one of the most harmful matter for environment. It has toxic effects on heath. Potential effects in humans are abdominal cramps, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, constipation, anemia, tiredness, nerve damage, vomiting, convulsions, anorexia, and brain damage. Also the central purifying community wants it very little (2.0mg/l). after long purifying process of activated sludge it only decreased about half of it. Cr+6: it has second lowest limits according to central purifying. It has lots of harmful damage for health. Some examples: Breathing high levels of chromium (VI) can cause irritation to the nose, such as runny nose, nosebleeds, and ulcers and holes in the nasal septum. Ingesting large amounts of chromium (VI) can cause stomach upsets and ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver damage, and even death.. The organisms of activated sludge cleaned it with high efficient. Total Cr: other type of Cr ions isnt harmful for human heath. Moreover chromium (III) is an essential nutrient that helps the body use sugar, protein, and fat. But its amount decreased by activated sludge. Perhaps the organisms used this element for their metabolism and as a result its amount decreased. Zn: it is also one of the toxic elements. The free zinc ion in solution is highly toxic to plants, invertebrates and even vertebrate fish. It has maximum 5.0mg/l limits that given by central purifying. The purifying process of activated sludge this pollution has prevented %68.33. Also the amount of Zn in cleaned water is very low than acceptable values. Ni: it can form allergic diseases if it combines with some other metals. Its metallic compounds have some toxic effects. To prevent these harmful effects the activated sludge system arranged to decrease. It has the highest efficiency of cleaning with %96.90. Fe: it has no much harmful effect on human health. It gives color to water and makes water turbid. It makes problems on some industry areas such as paper and textile. It has decreased nearly by 5 and the given amount is %1 of acceptable value.

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Al: toxicity of aluminum has very harmful effects on human health. Alzheimer disease, breast cancer and neurotoxicity are some example of these diseases. Cleaning this pollution is very difficult so it has one of the lowest efficient purifying. Maybe there is less organisms, that decreasing Al pollution, in activated sludge. Cu: it is also one of the most toxic matters. If it reaches high levels, it could cause diarrhea, blood in urine, liver damage, vomiting etc. During activated sludge method of purifying the copper amount decreases more than %90 to prevent society these common diseases. F: the purifying fluoride is the least effective one among the ones I have tested. This element is very reactive and it could easily react with water and form acid. This reaction effects pH of water. The organism population in the sludge could affect this solution too much. Some precautions could be taken to increases the efficiency of cleaning fluoride. P: the phosphorus element form high toxic levels organic compounds. Fluorophosphate esters are the most known and harmful toxics of phosphorus. Also the central purifying wants very low limit (<2.0mg/l) of P. The activated sludge purified it with high efficiency. SO4: the sulfate compound is the reason of acid rains. High amounts of sulfate in water, after evaporating return to the earth as acid rain. Purifying center cares about sulfate amount. According to analysis it seems has low efficiency but the entered amount also under the limits. So without decreasing its amount the central purifying accepts it. Cl: according to result there is high amount of chlorine, but it doesnt consider as pollution. Because it is used to kill bacteria and other microbes in drinking water supplies and public swimming pools. But high amount of Cl could be harmful so the purifying process decreased half of the entering amount. DCO and DBO5: DCO is a method of measuring water quality and DBO5 is used as a gauge of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants. The results of these test was in the limits of central purifying. This values show that the activated sludge plant works very efficient. Approximately purifying percentage: (90.18+89.10+89.18+68.33+56.56+76.17+75.00+41.82+96.90+93.43+88.00+93.08+41.41+ 78.95+50.57+55.78)/16~%75

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Conclusion From evaluating my collected data and the limited values of Central Purifying Center, the activated sludge has high purifying yield. The pollutants decrease at least %40 and the percentage reaches %97 for some matters. Approximately purifying percentage is %75. To find this value I made arithmetic average of all percentages of efficiency. This is very good number for purifying process which contains matters that have long half life for decaying itself in nature. The waste water our pollutant amounts is very little and mostly they are under 1mg per liter. The activated sludge process decreased the toxic water. It is an important way of saving water resources and it provides a clean future. This purifying way contributes ecosystem balance because it decreases amount of human produced pollutants such as sulfate. Increased sulfate level causes acid rains which damages ecosystem. Operating activated sludge plant doesnt gives harm to nature. For example it doesnt have negative effect on global warming and also its waste floc toxicity is low so its settlement doesnt have risks for soil environment. Uncertainties Although I performed analysis with a digital spectrophotometer, I could make some personal errors such as arranging volumes of solutions or pouring little amounts of chemicals outside of container. Also if containers surface was wet while measuring it causes diffraction of light. So spectrophotometer could read wrong values. Bibliography http://webpages.charter.net/balplanman/_MicPix/Protists/Vorticella%20Colony.jpg http://www.biltek.tubitak.gov.tr/bilgipaket/canlilar/img/Vorticella.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Euplotes.jpg http://www.biltek.tubitak.gov.tr/bilgipaket/canlilar/img/entodinium1.jpg http://www.gpmatthews.nildram.co.uk/microscopes/pondlife_protozoa02.html http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Zoology/Biologicaldiverstity/AnimalsI/Animal sI.htm http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/rotifera/rotiferanat.jpg http://www.environmentalleverage.com/Cooling%20Tower/Image935.jpg 20

http://www.college.ucla.edu/webproject/micro7/studentprojects7/Rader/asludge2.htm http://www.environmentalleverage.com/bug%20photos/Amoeba/amoeba3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc#Zinc_toxicity http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Elements-Toxic/Elements.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluminum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloro#Purification_and_disinfection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemical_oxygen_demand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_demand http://www.bionewsonline.com/x/what_is_activated_sludge.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_sludge http://www.lenntech.com/wwtp/pics/activatedSludgeProcess.jpg Users manual of HACH DR 2000

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