Activated Sludge The Good the Bad and the Ugly Steve Aiken Senior Project Manager, Stantec

Consulting - Michigan

Overview of the talk

Background (2 min) Overview on Activated Sludge (8 min) Touch on Nitrification (5 min) Foaming (10 min) Bulking sludge (10 min) Organisms in Activated Sludge (5 min)

Questions/Comments (throughout the talk)

Background
Michigan Class A Municipal License (1979) 10 Different Industrial Licenses BS Degree Civil Engineering (1980)

Background
37 Years of Experience operating/managing around 50 different treatment plants also involved in engineering design and project management during my tenure
Extended Aeration Conventional Activated Sludge 2 Stage Activated Sludge SBRs Complete Nitrification/Denit A/O Process Activated Sludge UV/OX Lagoon Water Plants 24 5 2 9 2 1 1 2 4

It Could Be that the Purpose of Your Life is Only to Serve as a Warning to Others

Overview of Activated Sludge

BOD5 Removal
Hetrorophic Bacteria
Products of Synthesis

Products of Respiration

NH3 CO2
New Cells

H2 O Cell

Absorbed Organics
Adsorbed Products Cell Membrane

Soluble Organics

What is the activated sludge process?

Air

Influent

Aeration tank

MLSS

Effluent

Secondary clarifier

Return Activated Sludge

Waste Activated Activated Sludge

Conventional Process

Biological Phosphorus Removal

Mixing

Air

Influent

Anaerobic Tank

Aeration tank

MLSS

Effluent

Secondary clarifier

Return Activated Sludge

Waste Activated Activated Sludge

Nitrification / Denitrification

Mixing

Air

Influent

Anoxic Tank

Aeration tank

MLSS

Effluent

Secondary clarifier

Internal Recycle
Return Activated Sludge

Waste Activated Activated Sludge

Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

Fill (mixing with or without air) React Settle Decant

Idle

Time

Oxidation Ditch

NH3-N Removal Autotrophic Bacteria

Ammonia Nitrogen Nitrosomonas

Nitrite Nitrogen Nitrobactor

Nitrate Nitrogen

Autotrophic Bacteria can consume inorganic material as a food source

Nitrification

Nitrosomonas at 1000x

Nitrobactor 1000x

FOAM

Foam

FOAM
When things go well

Trouble coming

Foam Goes Wild

Foam

Microthrix Parvicella (m. Parvicella)

F/M can be lowered by increased sludge wasting
Reducing sludge age helps. If possible increase grease and fat control on the influent if applicable

use of a selector Extensive chlorination or RAS chlorination can be used Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAX)

Before and After PAX addition

Nocardia
F/M can be lowered by increased sludge wasting
Reducing sludge age helps. If possible increase grease and fat control on the influent if applicable

use of a selector Extensive chlorination or RAS chlorination should definitely be considered Aeration tank design ALWAYS Overflow the tank

Nocardia

Bulking Sludge

Dominant filament types as indicators of conditions causing activated sludge bulking and foaming

Suggested Causative Conditions Low DO Low F/M

Indicative Filament Types Type 1701, S. natans , . H. hydrossis M. parvicella Nocardia sp. H. hydrossis , Types 021N, 0041, 0675, 0092, 0581, 0961, 0803, 1863 Thiothrix sp., Beggiatoa and type 021N Thiothrix sp., S. natans Type 021N, and possibly H. hydrossis and types 0041 and 0675. fungi

Septic Wastewater/Sulfide Nutrient Deficiency

Low pH Richard, et. alal., 1982

aStrom and Jenkins, 1984.

Setting test

Aeration Tank Settling

200

180

Sludge Volume Index (SVI)

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0 1/1 1/16 1/31 2/15 3/1 3/16 3/31 4/15 4/30 5/15 5/30 6/14 6/29 7/14 7/29 8/13 8/28 9/12 9/27 10/12 10/27 11/11 11/26 12/11 12/26

SVI

Organisms in Activated Sludge

Good Floc 100x

Suctorian 200x

Stalked Cillia 100x

Stalked Cillia 100x

Stalked Cillia 100x

Rotifer

Zoogloea Mass with India Ink at 1000x

m Parvicella 1000x

m. Parvicella at 1000x

T-0581 Filament at 1000x

T-0914 Filament at 1000x

T-0041 Filament at 1000x

T-0675 Filament at 1000x

T-1863 Filament at 1000x

Type 0092

Type O21N

Beggiatoa

Dr. Michael Richard Wastewater Microbiology Consulting Phone - 970 223-6571 email - michaelrichard@mrwwm.com Contact mrwwm.com for sample delivery Microscopic Analysis $350 Polysaccharide Test $200

Thank You & Questions