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Related Experiment Videos

Bulking sludge solved?!

J Kruit1, J Hulsbeek, A Visser

  • 1Royal Haskoning Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.kruit@royalhaskoning.com

Water Science and Technology : a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
|September 10, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Optimizing wastewater treatment plant configurations improves activated sludge settling. Specific reactor setups and operational conditions, like low ammonium and high oxygen, prevent filamentous bacteria growth and enhance sludge settleability (SVI).

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Microbiology
  • Water Treatment

Background:

  • Activated sludge bulking remains a challenge in wastewater treatment, impacting plant efficiency.
  • Previous studies suggest plug flow conditions improve sludge settling properties.
  • Understanding process configuration effects on sludge settling is crucial for effective biological nutrient removal.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of different process configurations in four full biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on activated sludge settling properties.
  • To identify key operational parameters influencing sludge settleability and preventing bulking.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of four full-scale wastewater treatment plants with varying configurations for biological nutrient removal.
  • Monitoring of operational parameters including reactor type, oxygen concentration, and ammonium levels.
  • Assessment of sludge settling properties, likely through Sludge Volume Index (SVI) measurements.

Main Results:

  • A separate anoxic reactor alone does not prevent the presence of Long Chain Fatty Acids (LCFA) which contribute to M. parvicella growth in anaerobic reactors.
  • Achieving a Sludge Volume Index (SVI) below 120 ml/g is possible through specific configurations.
  • Key factors for improved SVI include: plug flow in a separate anoxic reactor, a strictly anaerobic reactor (UCT-modification), an additional anoxic/aerobic reactor, high dissolved oxygen (>1.5 mg/l), and low ammonium concentration (<1 mg/l) in the aerobic stage.

Conclusions:

  • Process configuration significantly influences activated sludge settling properties and the prevention of bulking.
  • Implementing a UCT-modification, plug flow anoxic reactors, and optimizing aerobic conditions (high DO, low NH4+) are effective strategies.
  • These strategies help control filamentous bacteria growth (e.g., M. parvicella) by managing LCFA and improving overall sludge settleability.

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