INTRODUCTION

Sludge bulking has been one of the major

problems affecting biological waste treatment.
There are several problems
regarding solid separation in
activated sludge.
industrial and municipal activated sludge
processes a nutrient deficiency may occur.
The nutrients that are usually deficient in these
processes are either nitrogen or phosphorus.
results in the production of nutrient deficient floc
particles, loss of settleability, and possibly a billowy
white or greasy gray foam on the surface of the
aeration tank.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY - the bacteria within the
floc particles remove soluble BOD from the
wastewater
INTRODUCTION
NITROGEN OR PHOSPHOROUS is deficient the
soluble BOD is not degraded but it is stored within
the floc particles as an exocellular polymer-like
material. This slimy material interferes with settling
and may cause foam upon aeration.

BULKING is a problem consisting of slow settling and
poor compaction of solids in the clarifier of the
activated sludge system.
INTRODUCTION
Filamentous bulking is usually caused by the excessive
growth of filamentous microorganisms.
Bulking is caused by the overgrowth of filamentous
bacteria in activated sludge.
Name of Problem Cause of Problem Effect of Problem
Dispersed growth
Microorganisms do not form flocs
but are dispersed, forming only
small clumps or single cells
Turbid effluent. No zone settling
of sludge
Sime (jelly) Viscous bulking
Microorganisms are present in
large amounts of extracellulr
slime
Reduced settling and
compaction rates. Virtually no
solids separation, in severe cases
in overflow of sludge blanket
from secondary clarifier.
Pin floc (or pinpoint floc)
Small, compact, weak, roughly
spherical flocs are formed, the
larger of which settle rapidly.
Smaller aggregates settle slowly.
Low sludge volume index (SVI)
and a cloudy, turbid effluent.
Bulking
Filamentous organisms extend
from flocs into the bulk solution
and interfere with compaction
and settling of activated sludge.
High SVI; very clear supernatant.
Rising sludge
Denitrification in secondary
clarifer releases poorly soluble N2
gas, which attaches to activated
sludge flocs and floats them to
the secondary clarifier surface.
A scum of activated sludge forms
on the surface of the secondary
clarifier.
Foaming/scum formation
Caused by (1) nondegradable
surfactants and (2) the presence
of Nocardia and sometimes (3)
the presence of Microthrix
parvicella
Foams float large amounts
activated sludge solids to the
surface of treatment units. Foam
accumulates and putrefies. Solids
can overflow into secondary
effluent or overflow onto
walkways.
Relationship between floc-forming and filamentous
bacteria, three types of flocs are observed in activated
sludge:
INTRODUCTION
Normal flocs: A balance between floc-forming and
filamentous bacteria results in strong flocs that keep
their integrity in the aeration basin and settle well in the
sedimentation tank.
Pin-point flocs: In these flocs, filamentous bacteria
are absent or occur in low numbers. This results in small
flocs that do not settle well. The secondary effluent is
turbid despite the low SVI.
Normal flocs
INTRODUCTION
Filamentous bulking: Filamentous bulking is caused
by the predominance of filamentous organisms. The
filaments interfere with sludge settling and
compaction.
Filamentous bacteria have a higher surface-to-volume
ratio than that of their floc-forming counterparts, which
helps them survive under low oxygen concentration
and low nutrient conditions.
Filamentous bacteria are able to predominate under
low dissolved oxygen, low F/M, low nutrient conditions
or high sulfide levels.
Filamentous bulking
TYPES OF FILAMENTOUS MICROORGANISMS
20 to 30 types of filamentous microorganisms are
known to be involved in activated sludge bulking
A survey of bulking activated sludge plants in the U.S.
has revealed that approximately 15 major types of
filamentous microorganisms are responsible for
bulking, one of the most predominant being
Nocardia, which is responsible for foaming.
FACTORS CAUSING FILAMENTOUS BULKING
High carbohydrate wastes appear to be conducive
to sludge bulking.
Low substrate concentration (low F/M ratio) appears
to be the most prevalent cause of filamentous
bulking.
At low substrate concentration filamentous
microorganisms have a higher substrate removal
rate than that of floc-formers, which prevail at high
substrate concentrations.
completely mixed systems, increasing sludge
loading leads to a decrease of SVI and thus to a
decrease of filamentous microorganisms.
below 6.0PH may favor the growth of fungi and
cause filamentous bulking.
The growth of certain filamentous bacteria is
favored by relatively low dissolved oxygen levels
in the aeration tank.
A substrate overload in the tank may induce
oxygen deficiency.
Deficiences in nitrogen, phosphorus, iron or trace
elements may cause bulking.
Increased temperature supports the growth of
filamentous bacteria associated with low dissolved
oxygen concentrations.
Microthrix parvicella to the dominant
filamentous microorganism during the winter
season.
Hypothesis on filamentous bulking is based on the
ability of filamentous bacteria to denitrify nitrate to
only nitrite with no accumulation of toxic nitric
oxide by the cells. This gives a competitive
advantage over floc-forming bacteria.
Control of Sludge Bulking
Bulking control by chlorination
chlorination was proposed over 50 years
ago and this practice is probably the most
widely used cost-effective and short-term
method for controlling filamentous
bacteria.
Chlorine concentration should be 10-20
mg/L (concentrations greater than 20
mg/L may cause deflocculation and
formation of pin-point flocs).
Bulking control by Hydrogen peroxide
added tot he RAS at concentrations of 100-
200 mg/L
excessive levels of hydrogen peroxide
can be deleterious to floc-forming
bacteria
hydrogen peroxide may also act as a
source of oxygen in the aeration tank.
Ozone was also proposed for curing
filamentous bulking.
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC
POLYMERS, LIME, AND IRON
SALTS
added to the mixed liquor to improve
bridging between the flocs and thus
promote sludge settling
the addition of lime and iron salts
increases the solids load, and the use of
polymers is costly
coagulants leads to an immediate
improvement in sedimentation