BULKING IN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PLANTS Problems on Solid Waste Separation in Activated Sludge 1. Dispersed growth.

Bacteria not associated with the flocs are generally consumed by protozoa Their presence in high numbers as dispersed cells cause turbid effluent Dispersed growth is associated with failure of floc-forming bacteria to bioflocculate Causes of dispersed growth: High BOD loading Oxygen limitation Toxicity (e.g. metal toxicity) 2. Non-filamentous bulking Sometimes called as zoogleal bulking Caused by excess production of exopolysaccharides by zoogleal bacteria Results in reduced settling and compaction Can be corrected by chlorination 3. Pinpoint flocs Caused by disruption of sludge flocs into very small fragments that may pass into activated sludge effluent Consists mainly of filamentous bacteria Flocs loosen their structure resulting to poor settling and release of turbid effluents. 4. Rising sludge Rising sludge is a result of excess denitrification due to anoxic conditions in the settling tank. Sludge particles attach to rising nitrogen gas bubbles and form a sludge blanket at the surface of clarifier. Final outcome: turbid effluent with increased BOD5. Solution: lower sludge retention time (or increase recirculation rate of activated sludge) in the settling tank. 5. Filamentous bulking Bulking consists of slow settling and poor compaction of solids in the clarifier Filamentous bulking is usually caused by excessive growth of filamentous microorganisms. Filamentous bacteria are normal component of activated sludge. They may out-compete the floc-forming bacteria. 6. Foaming / Scum formation Scum is due to proliferation of Nocardia and Microthrix in activated sludge units Scum covers the top layer of the aerator reactors Factors that cause filamentous bulking 1. Waste composition: High carbohydrate waste (brewery and corn wet-milling industries) Glucose, maltose and lactose (but not galactose) support growth of filamentous bacteria 2. Substrate Concentration Filamentous microorganisms are slow-growing organisms and have lower half-saturation constant, Ks and max than floc-formers Low-substrate concentration favors grow of filamentous organisms 3. Sludge Loading and Sludge Age

High sludge loading leads to decrease of filamentous microorganisms pH Optimum pH in aeration tank: 7 7.5 Value of pH below 6: Favors growth of fungi Geotrichum, Candida, Trichoderma Cause filamentous bulking Laboratory activated sludge units: excessive growth of fungi occurred after 30 days at pH 4.0 and pH 5.0 5. Sulfide concentration High sulfide concentration favors overgrowth of filamentous bacteria such as Thiothrix, Beggiato 6. Dissolved Oxygen level Low dissolved oxygen favors growth of Spaherotilus natans Aeration tank should be operated with minimum of 2 mg/L O2 to avoid filamentous bulking 7. Nutrient Deficiency Deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, iron or trace elements may cause bulking. Recommended Ratio C:N:P = 100:5:1 Control of Sludge Bulking 1. Treatment with Oxidants Chlorination or application of hydrogen peroxide to selectively kill filamentous microorganisms. Chlorine concentration: 10 20 mg/L Hydrogen peroxide is added to the return activated sludge at concentrations of 100 to 200 mg/L Excessive chlorine or hydrogen peroxide can be deleterious to floc-forming bacteria Ozone has been proposed for curing filamentous bulking 2. Treatment with Flocculants Synthetic organic polymers, lime and iron salts added to promote sludge settling Addition of 15-20 mg/L cationic polymers: to control bulking in wastewater from brewing industry. Lime and iron salts increase solid load 3. Manipulation of Return Activated Sludge (RAS) Flow Rates Bulking interferes with sludge thickening in the clarifier thus reducing RAS suspended solids concentration Thus increasing RAS flow rate helps prevent failure of the clarifier Reduction of MLSS concentration in the clarifier can control bulking 4. Biological Selectors Biological selectors are reactors that regulate parameters to discourage growth of filamentous bacteria The incoming wastewater and the return activated sludge are mixed in the selector tank under desired conditions prior to entering the aeration basin. Mechanism of Foam Production 1. Gas bubbles produced by aeration of metabolism (e.g. N2) may assist in flotation of foam microorganisms. 2. The hydrophobic nature of the cell walls of foam microorganisms help their transport to the air-water interface.

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3. Biosufactants produced by foam microorganisms assist in foam formation 4. Foams are associated with long retention times (> 9 days), with warm temperatures (>18oC) and wastewaters rich in fats. Foam Control 1. Chlorine sprays or chlorination of return activated sludge. 2. Increase in sludge wasting. Reduce sludge age which cause Nocardia to be washed out 3. Use of biological selectors 4. Reduce air flow in the aeration basin filamentous organisms are strict aerobes 5. Reduce pH and in oil and grease levels 6. Addition of anaerobic digester supernatant to wastewater. This supernatant is toxic to pure cultures of Nocardia 7. Water sprays to control foam buildup does not result to full control of foam 8. Antifoam agents and iron salts 9. Low turbulence of wastewater in aeration tanks 10. Physical removal of the foam skim off scum and dispose somewhere else 11. Use of antagonistic microflora predator protozoa (not too successful)