problems affecting biological waste treatment. There are several problems regarding solid separation in activated sludge. industrial and municipal activated sludge processes a nutrient deficiency may occur. The nutrients that are usually deficient in these processes are either nitrogen or phosphorus. results in the production of nutrient deficient floc particles, loss of settleability, and possibly a billowy white or greasy gray foam on the surface of the aeration tank. NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY - the bacteria within the floc particles remove soluble BOD from the wastewater INTRODUCTION NITROGEN OR PHOSPHOROUS is deficient the soluble BOD is not degraded but it is stored within the floc particles as an exocellular polymer-like material. This slimy material interferes with settling and may cause foam upon aeration.
BULKING is a problem consisting of slow settling and poor compaction of solids in the clarifier of the activated sludge system. INTRODUCTION Filamentous bulking is usually caused by the excessive growth of filamentous microorganisms. Bulking is caused by the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria in activated sludge. Name of Problem Cause of Problem Effect of Problem Dispersed growth Microorganisms do not form flocs but are dispersed, forming only small clumps or single cells Turbid effluent. No zone settling of sludge Sime (jelly) Viscous bulking Microorganisms are present in large amounts of extracellulr slime Reduced settling and compaction rates. Virtually no solids separation, in severe cases in overflow of sludge blanket from secondary clarifier. Pin floc (or pinpoint floc) Small, compact, weak, roughly spherical flocs are formed, the larger of which settle rapidly. Smaller aggregates settle slowly. Low sludge volume index (SVI) and a cloudy, turbid effluent. Bulking Filamentous organisms extend from flocs into the bulk solution and interfere with compaction and settling of activated sludge. High SVI; very clear supernatant. Rising sludge Denitrification in secondary clarifer releases poorly soluble N2 gas, which attaches to activated sludge flocs and floats them to the secondary clarifier surface. A scum of activated sludge forms on the surface of the secondary clarifier. Foaming/scum formation Caused by (1) nondegradable surfactants and (2) the presence of Nocardia and sometimes (3) the presence of Microthrix parvicella Foams float large amounts activated sludge solids to the surface of treatment units. Foam accumulates and putrefies. Solids can overflow into secondary effluent or overflow onto walkways. Relationship between floc-forming and filamentous bacteria, three types of flocs are observed in activated sludge: INTRODUCTION Normal flocs: A balance between floc-forming and filamentous bacteria results in strong flocs that keep their integrity in the aeration basin and settle well in the sedimentation tank. Pin-point flocs: In these flocs, filamentous bacteria are absent or occur in low numbers. This results in small flocs that do not settle well. The secondary effluent is turbid despite the low SVI. Normal flocs INTRODUCTION Filamentous bulking: Filamentous bulking is caused by the predominance of filamentous organisms. The filaments interfere with sludge settling and compaction. Filamentous bacteria have a higher surface-to-volume ratio than that of their floc-forming counterparts, which helps them survive under low oxygen concentration and low nutrient conditions. Filamentous bacteria are able to predominate under low dissolved oxygen, low F/M, low nutrient conditions or high sulfide levels. Filamentous bulking TYPES OF FILAMENTOUS MICROORGANISMS 20 to 30 types of filamentous microorganisms are known to be involved in activated sludge bulking A survey of bulking activated sludge plants in the U.S. has revealed that approximately 15 major types of filamentous microorganisms are responsible for bulking, one of the most predominant being Nocardia, which is responsible for foaming. FACTORS CAUSING FILAMENTOUS BULKING High carbohydrate wastes appear to be conducive to sludge bulking. Low substrate concentration (low F/M ratio) appears to be the most prevalent cause of filamentous bulking. At low substrate concentration filamentous microorganisms have a higher substrate removal rate than that of floc-formers, which prevail at high substrate concentrations. completely mixed systems, increasing sludge loading leads to a decrease of SVI and thus to a decrease of filamentous microorganisms. below 6.0PH may favor the growth of fungi and cause filamentous bulking. The growth of certain filamentous bacteria is favored by relatively low dissolved oxygen levels in the aeration tank. A substrate overload in the tank may induce oxygen deficiency. Deficiences in nitrogen, phosphorus, iron or trace elements may cause bulking. Increased temperature supports the growth of filamentous bacteria associated with low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Microthrix parvicella to the dominant filamentous microorganism during the winter season. Hypothesis on filamentous bulking is based on the ability of filamentous bacteria to denitrify nitrate to only nitrite with no accumulation of toxic nitric oxide by the cells. This gives a competitive advantage over floc-forming bacteria. Control of Sludge Bulking Bulking control by chlorination chlorination was proposed over 50 years ago and this practice is probably the most widely used cost-effective and short-term method for controlling filamentous bacteria. Chlorine concentration should be 10-20 mg/L (concentrations greater than 20 mg/L may cause deflocculation and formation of pin-point flocs). Bulking control by Hydrogen peroxide added tot he RAS at concentrations of 100- 200 mg/L excessive levels of hydrogen peroxide can be deleterious to floc-forming bacteria hydrogen peroxide may also act as a source of oxygen in the aeration tank. Ozone was also proposed for curing filamentous bulking. SYNTHETIC ORGANIC POLYMERS, LIME, AND IRON SALTS added to the mixed liquor to improve bridging between the flocs and thus promote sludge settling the addition of lime and iron salts increases the solids load, and the use of polymers is costly coagulants leads to an immediate improvement in sedimentation
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