UNIT 5: ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

GENERAL

1. The key active microorganisms in an activated sludge process are: bacteria, fungi and protozoa
2. The process by which microorganisms clump together and become heavy enough to settle is called:
FLOCCULATION
3. One major advantage of activated sludge process when compared to a fixed film process is that the
activated sludge process generally: Achieves higher percent removal of BOD

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

1. The two stages of an activated sludge system include and aeration tank and a: CLARIFIER OR
SETTLING TANK
2. A concentrated mass of microorganisms is maintained in an activated sludge aeration tank through the
use of: SLUDGE RECYCLE (OR RETURN) FROM THE SECONDARY CLARIFIERS
3. In a normal process, the source of carbon and energy for activated sludge microorganism is: ORGANIC
MATTER IN THE INFLUENT
4. The biological mass in an activated sludge aeration tank consisting of microorganisms and suspended
matter is called: MIXED LIQUOR
5. The best indicator of the organic matter in an aeration tank is the concentration of: MLVSS
6. Generally, as sludge age increases: THE MIXED LIQUOR VOLATILE SOLID CONCENTRATION
DECREASES
7. Amoeba, ciliates and flagellates are all types of: PROTOZOA
8. The use of free oxygen to convert food into energy and growth is called: AEROBIC RESPIRATION
9. For most microorganisms utilized in wastewater treatment, the most favorable pH range is: 6.5-8.5
10. Nutrient deficiency in raw wastewater entering an activated sludge treatment process can result in:
FILAMENTOUS GROWTH AND BULKING OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE
11. The F:M is controlled primarily by adjusting the return rate and by: VARYING the SLUDGE WASTE
RATE
12. BOD is used to estimate the quantity of: ORGANIC MATTER
13. The most common means of determining the efficiency of the activated sludge process is testing the
effluent for: BOD AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS
14. The efficiency of an activated sludge process is affected by all of the following EXCEPT: THE
CONCENTRATION OF SLUDGE SOLIDS FROM THE SLUDGE DEWATERING PROCESS

PROCESS VARIATIONS

1. The three loading ranges for the activated sludge (high, medium, low) are based on the amount of
available ORGANIC MATTER for the organism
2. The low loading range activated sludge typically exhibits F:M of 0.05 to 0.2
3. In the conventional activated sludge process, the DO is lowest AT THE INFLUENT END OF THE TANK
4. In the conventional activated sludge process, F:M is highest AT THE INFLUENT END OF THE TANK
5. Advantages of the complete mix modification of the activated sludge process include all of the
following EXCEPT: MINIMIZES THE CHANCE FOR ORGANIC SHORT CIRCUITING
6. The extended aeration modification of the activated sludge process is operated at a: HIGH MCRT and a
low F:M
7. One advantage of the extended aeration modification of the activated sludge process is: LOW SLUDGE
PRODUCTION
8. The primary function of the stabilization tank in the contact stabilization modification of the activated
sludge process is to allow bacteria to: OXIDIZE THE FOOD THAT THEY ALREADY ABSORBED
9. An advantage of the contact stabilization modification of the activated sludge process is that it: GIVES
THE OPERATOR THE ABILITY TO HANDLE SHOCK LOADS
10. In the step feed modification of the activated sludge process, the DO is lowest: DO is NEARLY EQUAL
THROUGHOUT THE TANK
11. The modification of the activated sludge process which allows the closest match betweem the amount
of oxygen supplied and the oxygen uptake rate of the mixed liquor is the: HIGH-PURITY OXYGEN
PROCESS
12. One characteristic of a sequencing batch reactor is: THE ENTIRE PROCESS OCCURS IN ONE (1)
TANK
13. An advantage of a sequencing batch reactor is that it: ALL OF THE ABOVE
14. Nitrifying bacteria, in the process of nitrifying ammonia nitrogen, consume: 4.6 lb O2 per lb ammonia
nitrogen removed
15. Nitrifying bacteria are sensitive to changes in: ALL OF THE ABOVE
16. Nitrifying bacteria, in the process of nitrifying ammonia nitrogen, consume approximate: 4 lb
alkalinity per lb ammonia nitrogen removed
17. In an activated sludge process utilizing two stage nitrification, carbonaceous BOD removal generally
occurs: BEFORE NITRIFICATION
18. A tricking filter/solids contact (TF/SC) process includes a tricking filter followed by: ACTIVATED
SLUDGE

BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL

1. In wastewater, nitrogen can be found in the form of: ALL OF THE ABOVE
2. In wastewater, phosphorus can be found in the form of: ALL OF THE ABOVE
3. "Luxury uptake" of phosphorus occurs when an: ANAEROBIC ZONE IS FOLLOWED BY AN AEROBIC
ZONE
4. Phosphorus removal is achieved primarily by bacteria: Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas
5. In the side stream approach to biological phosphorus removal, lime is used primarily for: CHEMICAL
PRECIPITATION OF PHOSPORUS
6. A main stream phosphorus removal process must be designed the form of: PLUG FLOW
7. The ultimate by-product of Denitrification is: NITROGEN GAS
8. In Denitrification, microorganisms use nitrate as a source of: OXYGEN

PROCESS FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

1. The purpose of aeration equipment in an activated sludge aeration tank is to provide air to: mix the
content of the tank
2. Types of mechanical aerators include all of the following EXCEPT: SUBMERGED PIPES WITH HOLES
3. The greatest oxygen transfer with diffused aeration system is achieved by: SMALL BUBBLES AND A
LONG CONTACT WITH THE LIQUID
4. The aeration method that works by mixing pressurized air and water within a nozzle and then
discharging the mixture to the aeration tank is called a: JET AERATOR
5. All of the following factors affect secondary clarifier performance EXCEPT: MCRT
6. Since secondary sludge is more difficult to settle in a secondary clarifier, when operating a secondary
clarifier the: Overflow rate should be lower and the detention time longer
7. A typical detention time in a secondary clarifier is: 4-6 hours
8. The RAS system must return sludge back to the aeration system quickly in order to: ALL OF THE
ABOVE
9. The reduction of nitrate and the resulting formation of nitrogen gas is called: DENITRIFICATION
10. By varying the waste activated sludge (WAS) rate. the operator directly controls the F:M ratio and the:
MCRT

PROCESS CONTROL TESTING

1. The ratio of the aeration tank influent organic loading to the mass of microorganisms in the aeration
basin is called the: F:M
2. MCRT is also known as the: SLUDGE RETENTION TIME
3. A change in the settleable solids might indicate a change in: ALL OF THE ABOVE
4. The volume of sludge in mL occupied by 1 gram of activated sludge after settling for 30 minutes is
called the: SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX
5. If the 30 minute settleablity test is 300 mL/L and the MLSS concentration is 2500 mg/L, the SVI of the
sludge would be: 120 mL/g
6. Generally, conventional activated sludge process operate best at a DO of: AT LEAST 2.0 mg/L

PROCESS CONTROL

1. In properly operated aeration tank, foam should: BE SPARSE AND LIGHT COLORED
2. All of the following can be used to determine the desired rate of sludge return in an activated sludge
process EXCEPT: MCRT
3. Insufficient sludge wasting will result in a: DECREASE in F:M
4. If the target MCRT is 20 days, the sludge inventory in the process is 100 000 dry lb, and the plant
effluent discharge contains 500 lb of TSS per day, the WAS in lb/day would need to be: 4500
5. In calculating an FM ratio, the mass of organisms in the aeration tank is generally estimated by using
the: MLVSS
6. If a waste has a BOD:N:P ratio of 100:2:1, the operator should consider adding a chemical to the influent
that contains: NITROGEN

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. The operational control strategy that is slowest and least reversible is: SLUDGE WASTING
ADJUSTMENT
2. Filamentous organisms may be a problem during conditions of: ALL OF THE ABOVE
3. The best and most long-term solution to filamentous bulking is to: FIND THE CAUSE AND ELIMINATE
THE FILAMENTS
4. The appearance of small sludge particles floating on a secondary clarifier is called: ASHING
5. A sludge that settles rapidly is likely to produce: PINPOINT FLOC
6. The most likely cause of rising sludge in a secondary clarifier is: RAS too low or stopped
SAFETY

1. All of the following are potential hazards when working around an activated sludge process EXCEPT:
Explosion from OFF GASES
2. Pure Oxygen: ALL OF THE ABOVE

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UNIT TEST

1. A trickling filter or activated sludge process can result in nitrification, which is: Conversion of Ammonia
to nitrate and nitrite nitrogen

2. The best indicator of the organic matter in an aeration tank is the concentration of: MLVSS

3. Nitrogen occurring in the zone of decomposition of a highly polluted stream is most likely in the form
of: NH3-N

4. The best and most long-term solutions to filamentous bulking is to: Find the cause and eliminate the
filaments

5. All of the following factors affect the secondary clarifier performance EXCEPT: MCRT

6. BOD is used to estimate the quantity of: ORGANIC MATTER

7. Given the data below, what is the most likely cause of a low DO level in an activated sludge aeration
tank with a diffused aeration system problem?

Data:
Blower air rate output high
Organic load normal
Hydraulic load is normal
Low turbulence throughout the aeration tank

ANS: Aeration system piping leaking

8. Calculate the FM loading ratio given the following data:

Flow: 1 mgd
Average BOD to aeration tank: 140 mg/L
Aeration tank capacity: 250 000 gal
MLSS concentration: 2 860 mg/L

ANS: 0.28

Solution:
F = 140*1*8.34 = 1167.6
M = 0.25*2860*0.7*8.34 = 4174
F/M = 1167.6/4174 = 0.28
9. Nitrifying bacteria, in the process of nitrifying ammonia nitrogen, consume: 4.6 lb O2 per lb ammonia
nitrogen removed

10. Tests relevant in activated sludge process control include: INFLUENT BOD, MLVSS, RAS, and MLSS
DO

11. The process by which microorganisms clump together and become heavy enough to settle is called:
FLOCCULATION

12. In an activated sludge process utilizing two stage nitrification, carbonaceous BOD removal generally
occurs: BEFORE NITRIFICATION

13. A concentrated mass of microorganisms is maintained in an activated sludge aeration tank through
the use of: SLUDGE RECYCLE (OR RETURN) FROM THE SECONDARY CLARIFIERS

14. Given the data below, what is the most likely cause of the extended aeration facility problem?
Data:
DO in aerator is high
Sludge blanket in clarifier high
Return sludge flow low
Air lift control valve open
Blower normal

ANS: RETURN SLUDGE AIR LIFT LINE CLOGGED

15. If the target MCRT is 20 days, the sludge inventory in the process is 100 000 dry lb, and the plant
effluent discharge contains 500 lb of TSS per day, the WAS in lb/day would need to be: 4500

Solution:
20 = 100 000/(500+WAS)
WAS = (100 000 / 20) - 500 = 4500