Activated sludge microbiology problems and their control

Activated sludge microbiology problems and their control 

Michael Richard, Ph.D.
Sear-Brown
Fort Collins, CO 
 

Many problems can develop in activated sludge operation that adversely affect effluent quality with origins in the engineering, hydraulic and microbiological components of the process. The real "heart" of the activated sludge system is the development and maintenance of a mixed microbial culture (activated sludge) that treats wastewater and which can be managed. One definition of a wastewater treatment plant operator is a "bug farmer", one who controls the aeration basin environment to favor good microbiology. This paper will discuss the types of microbiological problems that can occur in activated sludge operation. These include dispersed (non-settleable) growth, pin floc problems, zoogloeal bulking and foaming, polysaccharide ("slime") bulking and foaming, nitrification and denitrification problems, toxicity, and filamentous bulking and foaming. The best approach to troubleshooting the activated sludge process is based on microscopic examination and oxygen uptake rate (OUR) testing to determine the basic cause of the problem or upset and whether it is microbiological in nature. These methods are easy, fast and inexpensive compared to other approaches, and are generally understandable and accepted.

Taxonomy

• Sludge Treatment
• Sludge Management
• Waste Water Treatments
• Wastewater Treatment
• Waste Water Treatment
• Sludge Treatment & Management

1 Comment

1. Bonjour

    Du grand n'importe quoi. C'est dans ce genre de présentation que l'on peut remarquer combien les gens sont dans l'erreur en cherchant des alternatives toutes aussi utopiques les unes des autres.

   Comment l'homme et la science ont ils pu arriver à ce stade de se moquer à ce point de la -BIOLOGIE-

   L'effluent d'eaux usées lors de sa production dans l'habitat est censé être à caractéristique < biologique >

   Dès lors que les utilisateurs/consommateurs de l'eau injectent des produits -chimique- dans cette eau usée, l'effluent perd sa caractéristique -biologique-. Les micros organismes meurent, la matière organique en perdant sa caractéristique < biologique > se transforme en "boue". 

   LA boue est une matière organique morte 'inerte'. elle ne contient pas de vivant, donc pas de micros organismes succeptibles d'accomplir le travail de biodégradation de la matière organique. Celle ci se putréfie sous l'effet de la méthanisation du milieu.

   La boue activée n'a donc pas de vocation à apporter de l'oxygène aux micros organismes qui n'en ont plus besoin puisque mort. la boue activée sert uniquement à éviter une frote méthanisation du milieu qui faisait fissurer le béton des bacs de la STEP.

   Comment peut on évaluer la performance de gestion d'une STEP? uniquement par sa production de boue.

   Tout le contraire d'un système totalement -biologique- dont la performance épuratoire est de plus de 98% sans aucune production de résidus de boue, sans obligation de traitement alternatif. 

   L'épuration -biologique- ne produit plus de boue, mais par contre les STEP si elles en produisent, on ne ramarque nul part de trace du suivi de ces boues. Comme des graisse d'ailleurs. 

   A ce stade je ne parle pas d'épuration des eaux usées pour une STEP, mais d'une simple gestion. Une gestion qui ressemble en tout point à la défécation à l'air libre de milles ans en arrière. 

   english

   Hello
    Great no matter what. It is in this kind of presentation that can be noticed how much people are in error by searching all as utopian alternatives to each other.

   How man and science have they have come at this stage to mock at this point - biology -

   The effluent of sewage during its production into habitat is supposed to be to < biological > characteristic

   As soon as the users/consumers of water inject - chemical - products in this wastewater, effluent loses its feature - biological-. Micro organisms die, the organic matter losing its < biological >  feature turns into "boue". 

   THE mud is a 'lifeless' dead organic matter. It does not alive, so no microphones agencies succeptibles to accomplish the work of biodegradation of organic matter. That this is rotting under the effect of the methanisation of the middle.

   So, activated mud has no vocation to bring oxygen to the microphones organizations that no longer need since dead. activated mud only serves to avoid a n'st methanisation of the environment which was crack the concrete from the bins of the STEP.

   How can you evaluate the performance of management of a STEP? only by its production of mud.

   The opposite of a totally - biological - system whose purification performance is more than 98% without any production residue of mud, without alternative treatment.

   -Biological - treatment produces more mud, but however the STEP if they produce, we don't ramarque nowhere to trace of sludge management. As the fat also. 

   At this point I don't know sewage wastewater for a STEP, but a simple management. Management which looks like in all point to defecation in the open air of thousand years back.