Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater

Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater

John R. Buchanan
John R. Buchanan
University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
Robert W. Seabloom
Robert W. Seabloom
University of Washington
University of Washington
University Curriculum Development
University Curriculum Development
for Decentralized Wastewater
for Decentralized Wastewater
Management
Management
NDWRCDP Disclaimer
NDWRCDP Disclaimer
This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water
This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water
Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with
Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with
funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881
through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881
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with Washington University in St. Louis. These materials have
with Washington University in St. Louis. These materials have
not been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection
not been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. These materials have been reviewed by
Agency. These materials have been reviewed by
representatives of the NDWRCDP. The contents
representatives of the NDWRCDP. The contents
of these materials do not necessarily reflect the views and
of these materials do not necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the NDWRCDP, Washington University, or the U.S.
policies of the NDWRCDP, Washington University, or the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade
Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade
names or commercial products constitute their endorsement or
names or commercial products constitute their endorsement or
recommendation for use.
recommendation for use.
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CIDWT/University Disclaimer
These materials are the collective effort of individuals from
These materials are the collective effort of individuals from
academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the
academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the
onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have
onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have
been peer
been peer
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reviewed and represent the current state of
reviewed and represent the current state of
knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a
knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a
series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulati
series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulati
ng
ng
a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not
a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not
necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of
necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of
Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized
Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized
Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or
Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or
commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or
commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or
recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor
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does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.
does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned.
Citation
Citation
Seabloom, R.W. and J.R Buchanan. 2005. Aerobic
Seabloom, R.W. and J.R Buchanan. 2005. Aerobic
Treatment of Wastewater
Treatment of Wastewater

PowerPoint
PowerPoint
Presentation.
Presentation.
in
in
(M.A. Gross and N.E. Deal,
(M.A. Gross and N.E. Deal,
eds.) University Curriculum Development for
eds.) University Curriculum Development for
Decentralized Wastewater Management.
Decentralized Wastewater Management.
National Decentralized Water Resources
National Decentralized Water Resources
Capacity Development Project. University of
Capacity Development Project. University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Aerobic Treatment of
Aerobic Treatment of
Wastewater
Wastewater

Objectives
Objectives

review of how aerobic microorganisms can
review of how aerobic microorganisms can
biochemically oxidize soluble and colloidal
biochemically oxidize soluble and colloidal
organic compounds, and how nitrogenous
organic compounds, and how nitrogenous
compounds are oxidizes into nitrate.
compounds are oxidizes into nitrate.

review the processes that create an oxygen
review the processes that create an oxygen
demand and how aeration can be provide to
demand and how aeration can be provide to
meet the oxygen demand
meet the oxygen demand
Primary Goal
Primary Goal

Use aerobic microorganisms to provide

Use aerobic microorganisms to provide
secondary treatment to domestic
secondary treatment to domestic
wastewater
wastewater

secondary treatment focuses on the removal
secondary treatment focuses on the removal
of biodegradable organics and suspended
of biodegradable organics and suspended
solids
solids

usually accomplished with biological reactors
usually accomplished with biological reactors

Biodegradable organics must be removed

Biodegradable organics must be removed
from wastewater stream to minimize the
from wastewater stream to minimize the
impact on the subsequent processes
impact on the subsequent processes
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD)
(BOD)

Mass of Dissolved Oxygen Consumed by

Mass of Dissolved Oxygen Consumed by
Aerobic Microbes while Biodegrading
Aerobic Microbes while Biodegrading
Organic Compounds and while Converting
Organic Compounds and while Converting
Ammonium to Nitrate
Ammonium to Nitrate

a measure of the potential impact a pollutant
a measure of the potential impact a pollutant
may have on a receiving stream
may have on a receiving stream

a high
a high
-
-
BOD waste will cause the consumption
BOD waste will cause the consumption
of dissolved oxygen out of the water at a
of dissolved oxygen out of the water at a
greater rate than natural aeration.
greater rate than natural aeration.
BOD Nomenclature
BOD Nomenclature

cBOD
cBOD

Carbonaceous BOD
Carbonaceous BOD

oxygen demand due to carbon oxidation

oxygen demand due to carbon oxidation

usually reported as BOD

usually reported as BOD
5 5
and potential nitrification
and potential nitrification
is suppressed during measurement
is suppressed during measurement

nBOD
nBOD

Nitrogenous BOD
Nitrogenous BOD

oxygen demand due to nitrogen oxidation

oxygen demand due to nitrogen oxidation

uBOD
uBOD

Ultimate BOD
Ultimate BOD

oxygen demand measured over long time periods

oxygen demand measured over long time periods
Oxygen Demand with Time
Oxygen Demand with Time
From Academic Curriculum chapter: Onsite Nitrogen Removal, By Stewart Oakley
Organics, Microbes & Oxygen
Organics, Microbes & Oxygen

Bioavailable organic compounds provide

Bioavailable organic compounds provide
food and energy to microbes
food and energy to microbes

naturally
naturally
-
-
occurring microorganisms consume
occurring microorganisms consume
food, and create more microorganisms
food, and create more microorganisms

the more microorganisms, the more food
the more microorganisms, the more food
consumed
consumed

the more food consumed, more dissolved
the more food consumed, more dissolved
oxygen is required
oxygen is required
Basic Equation
Basic Equation
-
-
Carbon
Carbon
2 2 2
aerobic
microorganisms
Organic Carbon + O Energy + CO + H O + Residue
2 2 2
new aerobic
microorganisms
+ O Energy + CO + H O + Residue
2 2 2
new aerobic
microorganisms
+ O Energy + CO + H O + Residue
Biological Nitrification
Biological Nitrification

Organically bound nitrogen is released when

Organically bound nitrogen is released when
the organic compound is oxidized
the organic compound is oxidized

released as the ammonium cation (NH
released as the ammonium cation (NH
4 4
+ +
)
)

Nitrification is a two
Nitrification is a two
-
-
step autotrophic process
step autotrophic process

the conversion from ammonium to nitrate
the conversion from ammonium to nitrate
Nitrosomonas
Nitrosomonas
Step 1:
Step 1:
NH
NH
4 4
+ +
+ 3/2O
+ 3/2O
2 2

NO
NO
2 2
2 2- -
+ 2H
+ 2H
+ +
+ H
+ H
2 2
O
O
Nitrobacter
Nitrobacter
Step 2:
Step 2:
NO
NO
2 2- -
+ 1/2O
+ 1/2O
2 2

NO
NO
3 3- -
From Academic Curriculum chapter: Onsite Nitrogen Removal, By Stewart Oakley
Biological Nitrification
Biological Nitrification

During this energy yielding reaction

During this energy yielding reaction

some of the NH
some of the NH
4 4
+ +
is synthesized into cell
is synthesized into cell
tissue giving the following overall oxidation
tissue giving the following overall oxidation
and synthesis reaction:
and synthesis reaction:

Nitrifiers use CO
Nitrifiers use CO
2 2
instead of organic carbon
instead of organic carbon
as their carbon source for cell synthesis and
as their carbon source for cell synthesis and
for the conversion of NH
for the conversion of NH
4 4
+ +
to NO
to NO
3 3
- -
-
-
N.
N.
Autotrophic Autotrophic
1.00NH 1.00NH
+ +
+ 1.89O + 1.89O
2 2
+ 0.08CO + 0.08CO
2 2
0.98NO 0.98NO
3 3
- -
+ 0.016C + 0.016C
5 5
H H
7 7
O O
2 2
N + 0.95H N + 0.95H
2 2
O + 1.98H O + 1.98H
+ +
Bacteria Bacteria new bacterial cells new bacterial cells
From Academic Curriculum chapter: Onsite Nitrogen Removal, By Stewart Oakley
Overall, the Result.
Overall, the Result.

If Dissolved Oxygen is Consumed Faster

If Dissolved Oxygen is Consumed Faster
than Aeration, then Anaerobic Conditions
than Aeration, then Anaerobic Conditions
Occur
Occur

anaerobic microbes will continue the
anaerobic microbes will continue the
degradation process
degradation process

but at a much slower rate than aerobic microbes

but at a much slower rate than aerobic microbes

aquatic species that depend on dissolved oxygen will

aquatic species that depend on dissolved oxygen will
either move or perish
either move or perish

aquatic species that cannot survive under
aquatic species that cannot survive under
anaerobic conditions add to the excess
anaerobic conditions add to the excess
organic matter in the system
organic matter in the system
Thus,
Thus,

BOD can be used as a measure of

BOD can be used as a measure of
wastewater strength
wastewater strength

a high BOD suggests that the organic
a high BOD suggests that the organic
compounds are easily biodegradable
compounds are easily biodegradable

indicates the mass of dissolved oxygen that
indicates the mass of dissolved oxygen that
could be removed by aerobic microbes
could be removed by aerobic microbes

Secondary
Secondary
-
-
treatment devices reduce the
treatment devices reduce the
oxygen demand of a wastewater
oxygen demand of a wastewater
Providing Dissolved Oxygen
Providing Dissolved Oxygen

Aerobic treatment Systems take

Aerobic treatment Systems take
advantage of this Natural Process by
advantage of this Natural Process by
Providing Plenty of DO
Providing Plenty of DO

high
high
-
-
rate carbon removal and ammonification
rate carbon removal and ammonification

occupies a small
occupies a small
-
-
footprint
footprint

requires energy to maximize oxygen transfer
requires energy to maximize oxygen transfer

biological reactor
biological reactor
Microbes as Workhorses
Microbes as Workhorses

Microorganisms are used

Microorganisms are used

to convert colloidal and dissolved
to convert colloidal and dissolved
carbonaceous organic matter into various
carbonaceous organic matter into various
gases and into cell tissue
gases and into cell tissue

gases evolve (CO2, N2, and others)

gases evolve (CO2, N2, and others)

new cells can be settled

new cells can be settled

thus carbon is removed

thus carbon is removed

break other nutrients out of organic
break other nutrients out of organic
compounds
compounds

nitrogenous compounds
nitrogenous compounds

phosphorus species
phosphorus species
Optimizing a Natural Process
Optimizing a Natural Process

Bioreactors are built to maximize the

Bioreactors are built to maximize the
production of beneficial end
production of beneficial end
-
-
products
products

alcohols (beer)
alcohols (beer)

insulin
insulin

other medications
other medications

And
And

convert wastewater into secondary
convert wastewater into secondary
-
-
quality
quality
effluent
effluent
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater Treatment

Examples of Aerobic Bioreactors used for

Examples of Aerobic Bioreactors used for
Secondary Treatment
Secondary Treatment

activated sludge plants
activated sludge plants

rotating biological contactors
rotating biological contactors

packed
packed
-
-
bed media filters
bed media filters

Highly
Highly
-
-
Engineered Systems that Utilize
Engineered Systems that Utilize
Microbial Metabolism to Convert Organic
Microbial Metabolism to Convert Organic
Compounds into Cells and Carbon Dioxide
Compounds into Cells and Carbon Dioxide
Microbial Metabolism
Microbial Metabolism

Chemical Activities Performed by Cells

Chemical Activities Performed by Cells

Catabolism
Catabolism

biochemical process that degrades substrate

biochemical process that degrades substrate
(food) down to end
(food) down to end
-
-
products with the release of
products with the release of
energy
energy

energy is held in chemical form for future use

energy is held in chemical form for future use

Anabolism
Anabolism

biochemical process that synthesizes new cells.

biochemical process that synthesizes new cells.

energy from catabolism is used to drive the

energy from catabolism is used to drive the
process
process
Catabolism
Catabolism

Fermentation
Fermentation

first step in biodegradation
first step in biodegradation

does not depend on presence of oxygen

does not depend on presence of oxygen

both aerobic and anaerobic microbes use this
both aerobic and anaerobic microbes use this
step
step

this is why methane and alcohol production must be

this is why methane and alcohol production must be
anaerobic
anaerobic

however, anaerobic microbes cannot further oxidize the

however, anaerobic microbes cannot further oxidize the
VFA
VFA

2 2 4
volatile
COHNS
heterotrophic
fatty + CO + H O + CH + energy + residuals
microbes organic compounds
acids
Catabolism
Catabolism

Respiration
Respiration

second step for aerobic microbes
second step for aerobic microbes

simple organic compounds can be oxidized to

simple organic compounds can be oxidized to
carbon dioxide and water
carbon dioxide and water

requires the presence of dissolved oxygen
requires the presence of dissolved oxygen
2 2 2
volatile
aerobic
fatty + O energy + CO + H O + residuals
microbes
acids






Anabolism
Anabolism

Building of Cell Protoplasm

Building of Cell Protoplasm

energy from fermentation and/or respiration is
energy from fermentation and/or respiration is
used to assemble the characteristic chemical
used to assemble the characteristic chemical
components of cells from simple precursors
components of cells from simple precursors

precursors provide carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and

precursors provide carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and
other elements found in cellular structure
other elements found in cellular structure

chemical energy in adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

chemical energy in adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

60 87 12 23
simple C H N O P
microbes

energy precursors new cells
Endogenous Respiration
Endogenous Respiration

Aerobic Degradation of Cellular Material

Aerobic Degradation of Cellular Material

microbes are organic compounds
microbes are organic compounds

under substrate
under substrate
-
-
limiting conditions, microbes
limiting conditions, microbes
will feed on each other at a higher rate than
will feed on each other at a higher rate than
new microbes can be formed
new microbes can be formed

60 87 12 23
2 2 2 4 3
C H N O P
aerobic
+ O CO + H O + PO + NH + residuals
microbes cellular material
Environmental Effects
Environmental Effects

Microbes need more than organic carbon,

Microbes need more than organic carbon,
dissolved oxygen and water
dissolved oxygen and water

temperature must be life
temperature must be life
-
-
sustaining
sustaining

need steady supply of food to maintain stable
need steady supply of food to maintain stable
microbial population
microbial population

pH needs to be monitored
pH needs to be monitored

low alkalinity can cause large changes in pH

low alkalinity can cause large changes in pH

Be careful with biocides
Be careful with biocides

acid drain cleaner

acid drain cleaner

antibiotics
antibiotics
Temperature
Temperature

Overall, as Temperature Rises, Microbial

Overall, as Temperature Rises, Microbial
Activity Increases (but not too hot)
Activity Increases (but not too hot)

Microbes can be grouped by temperature

Microbes can be grouped by temperature
preference
preference

Psychrophilic microorganisms
Psychrophilic microorganisms

optimum temperature 12
optimum temperature 12

to 18
to 18

C
C

Mesophilic microorganisms
Mesophilic microorganisms

optimum temperature 25
optimum temperature 25

to 40
to 40

C
C

Thermophilic microorganisms
Thermophilic microorganisms

optimum temperature 55
optimum temperature 55

to 65
to 65

C
C
Summary
Summary

Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater

Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater

takes advantage of a natural process
takes advantage of a natural process

process can be easily engineered into a
process can be easily engineered into a
biological reactor for high
biological reactor for high
-
-
rate wastewater
rate wastewater
treatment
treatment

removes the oxygen demand from
removes the oxygen demand from
wastewater before being discharged back into
wastewater before being discharged back into
the hydrologic cycle
the hydrologic cycle

Carbon is transformed into cell mass and

Carbon is transformed into cell mass and
into carbon dioxide
into carbon dioxide
Questions
Questions