Study of the Factors Affecting Activated Sludge Settling in Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 273-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Echeverría ◽  
A. Seco ◽  
J. Ferrer

A study has been made of the influence of the process parameters on the settling characteristics of sludge in domestic wastewater treatment plants. The experiments were conducted at a pilot plant situated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Valencia, Spain (1,000,000 inhabitants). The influent to the pilot plant was the same as that of the plant. It was found that F/M ratios in the range of 0.25-0.60 g DBO5/g MLVSS day produce values of SVI representative of good settleability of the sludge. Values of sulphide concentration in the influent above 1.0 mg/l negatively affect the process, causing bulking and floating sludge. High values of fats were found to have no influence on the SVI, but did affect the performance of depuration. At low DO levels, the appearance of bulking with high SVI values was observed. Throughout the experiments, the permanence of nutrients (basically N and P) above that required for the growth of the microorganisms was proved.

Revista EIA ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Patricia Torres ◽  
Carlos Madera ◽  
Jorge Silva

Uno de los principales problemas de calidad que presentan los biosólidos de plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas –PTAR– es el contenido de microorganismos patógenos que los clasifica en muchos casos como Clase B con restricción para uso agrícola. Este estudio evaluó la estabilización alcalina de los biosólidos de la PTAR Cañaveralejo (Cali, Colombia) para mejorar su calidad microbiológica, empleando dos tipos de cal (hidratada y viva) en dosis entre 8 y 25 % y dos tipos de ceniza con dosis entre 8 y 40 % en unidades experimentales de 0,2 m2 con un tiempo de contacto de 13 días. Los resultados mostraron que con cal se logró reducción total de las variables de respuesta evaluadas (coliformes fecales, Salmonella sp y huevos de helmintos), mientras que el poder alcalinizante de las cenizas evaluadas fue insuficiente. El biosólido higienizado con cal presenta alto potencial de uso agrícola por su calidad microbiológica y por el contenido final de materia orgánica y nutrientes (N, P) que pueden beneficiar los suelos, pero es recomendable evaluar la optimización a escala piloto de la dosificación de cal y la aplicación del biosólido en diferentes tipos de suelos y cultivos para precisar los beneficios o medidas preventivas antes de la aplicación.Abstract: One of the main quality problems of biosolids from domestic wastewater treatment plants –WWTP– is the high concentration of pathogens, often classified as a class B, with restriction for use in agriculture. This study evaluated the alkali stabilization of biosolids from Cañaveralejo wastewater treatment plant (PTAR-C), located in Cali, Colombia, in order to improve their microbiological quality using two types of lime (quick and hydrated) with doses between 8 to 25 % and two types of ash with 8 to 40 % as doses, in experimental units 0,2 m2with 13 days of contact time. The results showed that both type of lime reached the total reduction of evaluated monitoring variables (faecal coliforms, Salmonella sp, helmints eggs) while the alkali power of ashes were lower. The obtained biosolids treated with lime have a high potential use in agriculture purposes for the good microbiological quality, and for the organic matter and nutrient content (N, P) that can generate benefit to the soil, but it is recommendable to evaluate at pilot scale the lime doses and application of biosolid in different soils types and crops in order to precise the benefits or prevent measurements before application of material in soil.


2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.X. Ramos ◽  
S.L. Estévez ◽  
E. Giraldo

VOCs emitted by two composting static piles of biosolids coming from the “El Salitre” wastewater treatment plant (Bogotá, Colombia) were analysed during the composting process. Each pile in its sampling time was maintained with a different aeration system. The sampling was made using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME); separation and identifications were made using Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled to Mass Spectrometry (MS). Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated compounds, ketones, mercaptans, alcohols and amines were identified in concentrations greater than the norms stipulated by the EPA for inhalation in humans beings. The emission behavior varied according to the aeration system used.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Moussa ◽  
A.R. Rojas ◽  
C.M. Hooijmans ◽  
H.J. Gijzen ◽  
M.C.M. van Loosdrecht

Computer modelling has been used in the last 15 years as a powerful tool for understanding the behaviour of activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. However, computer models are mainly applied for domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Application of these types of models to industrial wastewater treatment plants requires a different model structure and an accurate estimation of the kinetics and stoichiometry of the model parameters, which may be different from the ones used for domestic wastewater. Most of these parameters are strongly dependent on the wastewater composition. In this study a modified version of the activated sludge model No. 1 (ASM 1) was used to describe a tannery WWTP. Several biological tests and complementary physical-chemical analyses were performed to characterise the wastewater and sludge composition in the context of activated sludge modelling. The proposed model was calibrated under steady-state conditions and validated under dynamic flow conditions. The model was successfully used to obtain insight into the existing plant performance, possible extension and options for process optimisation. The model illustrated the potential capacity of the plant to achieve full denitrification and to handle a higher hydraulic load. Moreover, the use of a mathematical model as an effective tool in decision making was demonstrated.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Dupont ◽  
Ole Sinkjær

The objective of the work presented is to demonstrate how computer based models can be used to improve the effluent quality from wastewater treatment plants by optimisation of the operation. The investigation was carried out in connection with pilot plant investigations at Damhusllen Wastewater Treatment Plant in order to establish the design basis for upgrading the treatment plants in the city of Copenhagen. Calibration of the model was done with thorough characterisation of the wastewater and the activated sludge as the primary calibration tool. Special attention was paid to the nitrification process, which by previous investigations was shown to be occasionally inhibited. Model constants for the nitrification process were detennined from experiments. Default constants were used for nearly all other constants. The pilot plant was optimized with the calibrated model. Different operational strategies for improvement of the denitrification process were tested. The denitrification process was operated relatively poorly at the time for the optimisation. The calibration showed that it was possible to calibrate the model using the characterization of the wastewater and the activated sludge as the primary calibration tool. Further it was shown that the calihrated model could be used as a tool for optimising the operation of the pilot plant. The suggested operation correlated well with the practical realisable operation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Rensink ◽  
W. H. Rulkens

Pilot plant experiments have been carried out to study the mineralization of sludge from biological wastewater treatment plants by worms such as Tubificidae. Trickling filters filled with lava slags were continuously fed with a certain quantity of excess activated sludge of a Dutch brewery wastewater treatment plant (Bavaria) by recirculation during 10 to 14 days. At the starting point of each experiment the trickling filters were inoculated with Tubificidae. Recirculation of sludge showed that use of Tubificidae resulted in a COD reduction of the sludge (mixed liquor) of 18–67–. Without worms this reduction was substantially lower. The sludge production in a pilot activated sludge system for treating settled domestic wastewater reduced from 0.40 to 0.15 g MLSS/g COD removed when Tubificidae were added to the system. The lower amounts of sludge were always accompanied by an increase of nitrate and phosphate concentration in the wastewater. There was no disturbance of the nitrification process. Application of Tubificidae or other worms may have interesting potential for practical application.


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