Question # 1: Explain with diagram the chemical and biological processes in sewage water
treatment Plant?
1. Biological Processes:
In conventional biological treatment two basic techniques are used
1.1. Fluid-Bed Reactors
1.1.1. Activated Sludge Process
1.1.2. Sewage Lagoons
1.2. Fixed Bed Reactors
1.2.1. Trickling Filter
1.2.2. Sand Filters
1.2.3. Spray Irrigation System
1.1. Fluid Bed System:
The activated-sludge processes and sewage lagoons are fluid-bed systems. The activated-
sludge process uses mechanical aeration and returns a percentage of the active sludge to the
process influent. Lagoons or stabilization ponds and oxidation ditches do not routinely waste
sludge, but multipond systems can have recirculation. Septic tanks and Imhoff tanks combine the
settling and biological oxidation processes in a single tank
2. Tapered Aeration:
A less popular alternative to distributing the load to the aeration tank is to provide different
quantities of oxygen along the tank length, related to the oxygen demand that gradually
decreases along the tank length. The flow sheet for tapered aeration is the same as that in Figure
1. The disadvantage of tapered aeration is that although it is more economical due to reduced
air quantities, it can only be designed for one loading.
3. Extended Aeration Treatment:
Figure shows the extended aeration treatment process. In extended aeration, as the name
implies, the activated- sludge detention time is increased by a factor of 4 or 5 compared to
conventional activated sludge. The primary clarifier is eliminated. At a surface settling rate of 350
to 700 gpd per ft2, 4 hr final settling is typical. The extended-aeration period reduces or eliminates
the requirement for disposing excess sludge and is therefore a popular system for small plants.
4. Completely mixed, activated-sludge:
Figure is a flow diagram for the completely mixed, activated-sludge system. This process is an
extension of step aeration and provides a uniform oxygen demand throughout the aeration tank.
Mechanical aerators also provide mixing for this unit. The SS concentration in the mixed liquor is
two to three times the concentration in most conventional plants. Aeration detention times are
reduced to 2 to 4 hr. The sludge recycling ratio is generally high because the greater flow
improves mixing.
5. Contact Stabilization Process:
Figure is a typical contact stabilization process flow
diagram. The small contact tank, with detention
times of about hr binds the insoluble organic
matter in the activated sludge. Clarification separates
the contact-settled sludge from the supernatant. The
smaller sludge volume is then aerated for an
additional 3 or 4 hr. Since the total sewage flow is
aerated for a shorter period (with only the returned
activated sludge being aerated for longer periods),
the aeration tank capacity is smaller than in
conventional plants. With the activated sludge in two
tanks, the plant is not out of operation when the
contact tank is disabled. Sludge recycling percentages
of 30 to 60% are normal with contact.
A modern modification of the trickling filter is the rotating biological contactor or rotating disc,
pictured in the figure. The microbial growth occurs on rotating discs that are slowly dipped into
the wastewater, which provides their food. By bringing the discs out into the open air, the
microbes are able to obtain the necessary oxygen to the growth aerobic.
2. Chemical Treatment
Historically, SS have been removed from wastewater by gravity sedimentation. The removal
efficiency of this unit operation is a function of the presence of readily settle able solids. SS
removal through chemical treatment is accomplished by three series unit operations:
Rapid-mixing
Flocculation
Settling.
Rapid Mixing:
The chemical reagent must first be completely dispersed throughout the wastewater. This is
achieved through coagulation and Precipitation of wastewater stream
Coagulation
The principle function of chemical coagulation is known as destabilization, aggregation, and
binding together of colloids. Alum, or aluminum sulphate, (Al2 (SO4)3 .18 H2O) is one of the most
common coagulants which may be added to a water system. Such a coagulant possesses tiny
positive charges and therefore has the ability to link together with negatively charged color or
turbidity particles by mutual coagulation. Alum also reacts with the natural alkalinity (carbonate-
bicarbonate system) of the water to produce a precipitate which is usually thought to be
aluminum hydroxide. If the reaction takes place with natural alkalinity, it may be expressed as
follows:
In the event that there is insufficient natural alkalinity for this to occur, then calcium oxide (lime)
may be added to create the same effect. Because this system is very poorly understood, the
optimum dosage required in practice has to be done by trial and error through a series of tests
known as jar tests.
In these jar tests, the flash mixing and flocculation steps described previously are stimulated at
various concentrations of alum and the clarification which takes place and the reduction of
turbidity and the rate at which the floc settles are all observed in order to determine the optimum
dosage of coagulant. If too much coagulant is added, then the colloidal system which is primarily
negatively charged will become supersaturated by the aluminum system which is primarily
positively charged and the suspension will become restabilized and this can be observed by
conducting jar tests over a wide range of concentrations of coagulant.
The reason why alum is so generally used is that it is highly effective over a wide pH range in
waters of vastly different chemical make-up. Other materials such as ferrous sulphate are
occasionally used to increase the settling rate of plankton and thus increase the time of the filter
run, making the filter process more efficient.
Precipitation
There are two important processes which are associated with precipitation in the treatment of
water.
1. Reduction of hardness (calcium and magnesium)
2. Reduction of iron and manganese.
Reduction of Hardness:
Water Softening The lime-soda-ash process involves the addition of Ca (OH) 2 and Na2 CO3 to
water. The reactions which occur are as follows:
In this reaction it can be seen that the lime is added to precipitate the carbonate hardness, while
the soda ash provides the carbonate ion to precipitate the non-carbonate hardness.
Precipitation of Iron and Manganese
Normally, iron and manganese are only highly soluble if they are in their ferrous (Fe2+) and
manganous (Mn2+) forms. Normally, these two metals will only occur in this form if there is an
absence of dissolved oxygen. However, on occasions when the water is particularly acid, such as
might occur in mine drainage areas, the metals may remain in solution even though a very high
dissolved oxygen is present. Under these circumstances, aeration is frequently sufficient to drive
off the surplus carbon dioxide, increase the pH and bring about a natural precipitation of these
materials in their ferric and manganic form. In order to catalyze or accelerate this reaction, the
water is frequently caused to trickle over coke or crushed stone, or to flow upward through some
contact material. This allows deposits of iron and manganese to accumulate on the surfaces and
catalyze the further precipitation of ferric and manganic oxides.
If the pH of the system is forced to values higher than 7.1, the positively charged ferric
hydroxide particles may be adsorbed on the negatively charged calcium carbonate particles and
a stable colloidal suspension may result. Iron and manganese are objectionable constituents of
water supplies because they impart a brown color to laundry goods and frequently will stain
household plumbing fittings. Precipitation of iron and manganese can also be satisfactorily
accomplished by using the lime-soda-ash process as described above for softening.
Flocculation
After effective coagulation-precipitation reactions (rapid mix) occur, promoting particle size
growth through flocculation is the next step. The purpose of flocculation is to bring coagulated
particles together by mechanically inducing velocity gradients within the liquid. Flocculation
takes 15 to 30 min in a basin containing turbine or paddle-type mixers. Mean temporal velocity
gradients of 40 to 80 ft. per sec per ft. are recommended. The lower value is for fragile floc
(aluminum or iron floc), and the higher value is for lime-treatment floc.
Solids contacting is especially beneficial for lime treatment because it reduces the deposition
problems inherent in once-through, rapid-mix, flocculation systems. Wastewater treatment
facilities provide solids-contacting by maintaining or recycling large amounts of previously
formed precipitates in contact with the wastewater and adding lime. Several types of solids-
contact treatment units are available. These units were originally developed for lime-softening
water treatment and are effective for lime treatment of wastewater.
Settling
After flocculation, the final step is clarification by gravity settling. The conventional clarifier
design is suitable for this purpose. However, wastewater treatment facilities should provide
positive-sludge withdrawal to prevent problems associated with the formation of septic sewage
sludge. Figure shows a once-through and a solids contacting system for enhancing SS removal
with chemical treatment.