TWO MAINS CATEGORIES OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
Categories Examples Diagram Process
1.Fixed a.)Trickling filters The primary effluent is disbursed
films/ over the top of the filter media by
attached a fixed distributor system or a
growth. rotating distribution arm.
The wastewater forms a thin
layer as it flows down through
the filter media and over the
microorganism layer on the
media surfaces.
As the distributor arm rotates, a
flow of wastewater and air
alternates contact with the
microorganism layer (the zoogleal
slime).
b.)Rotating Disc rotate in, portion of the
biological biomass film that is submerged in
contactors (RBCs) wastewater absorb organics
Disc rotate out, biomass film
receive the oxygen for aerobic
decomposition
Disc re-enter the wastewater -
excess solids and waste products
slip off the media as sloughings
The sloughing are transported
with the effluent to a settling
tank for removal.
Advantages Diadvantages
-Effective in treating high -Additional treatment
concentrations of organic may be needed for the
material depending on the effluent to meet strict
type of media used; discharge standards
-Very efficient in removal -generates sludge that
of ammonia from must be treated and
wastewater; disposed of
-Appropriate for small- to -Regular operators
medium-sized communities attention is needed;
-Relatively high incidence
of clogging
-Relatively low loadings
required depending on
the media
-High contact time and high -Continuous electricity
effluent quality (both BOD supply required (but uses
and nutrients) less energy than trickling
-High process stability, filters or activated sludge
resistant to shock hydraulic processes for
or organic loading comparable degradation
-Short contact periods are rates)
required because of the -Contact media not
large active surface available at local market
-Low space requirement -High investment as well
-Well drainable excess as operation and
sludge collected in clarifier maintenance costs
-Process is relatively silent -Must be protected
compared to dosing pumps against sunlight, wind
for aeration and rain (especially
-No risk of channelling against freezing in cold
-Low sludge production climates)
TWO MAINS CATEGORIES OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
2. a.)Activated
Suspended Sludge Biological wastewater treatment
growth process
system influent and activated sludge is
agitated and aerated.
The activated sludge is
subsequently separated from the
treated mixed liquor by
sedimentation
Some activated sludge is returned
to the process if needed.
The treated wastewater
overflows the weir of the settling
tank in which separation from the
sludge takes place.
b.)Ponds(Oxidatio
n/lagoon)
Odour problems may
occur
-Requires permanent
skilled technical labour
for operation and
maintenance
-Capable of removing 97% -Cleaning is a hassle
of suspended solids -Most plants need at
-Biological nitrification least three tanks
without adding chemicals -Temperature changes
-Oxidation and nitration affect the tank greatly
achieved
-Biological phosphorous
removal
-Solids and liquids
separation
-Removes organics
-Cost effective
-Easily maintained
mechanical work
-Self sustaining system
- Easy to construct -Requires a large land
- Low cost area
- Low maintenance costs
- Effluent does not require -High BOD and TSS with
disinfection algae concentrations
- Capable of handing a
variety of hydraulic loads
- Ideal for small
communities and also
tropical region
- Completes sludge
treatment
TWO MAINS CATEGORIES OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT

- Handles varying
wastewater types
(industrial or municipal
- BOD, fecal coliform, and
helminth removal is higher
than by other treatment
methods
- such as activated sludge,
biological filters, and
rotational biological
contactors
c.)Sequential -High effluent quality
Batch (reduces main pollutants
Reactor(SBR) including ammonia by 96%,
and reduces phosphates by
88%);
-operates on a storage and
batching system – Batch
system eliminates peak
surges
-There are no moving parts
or electrical components
within the tank.
-Process is simplified-all
the unit processes are
operated in a single tank
-High peak flow can
disrupt operation
-May require
equalization prior to
disinfection
-Higher maintenance
skills required for
instruments, monitoring
devices, and automatic
valves
-Difficukt to adjust the
cycle times for small
communities.
-Sludge must be disposed
frequently.
Specific energy
consumption is high