AERATION

What is Aeration?
remove
water

air
modify

w does Aeration Work?

Aeration brings water and air in
close contact by :
exposing drops or thin
sheets of water to the air
introducing small bubbles
of air and letting them rise
through the water

Treatment

Scrubbing

Oxidation

Primary application of aeration

in water treatment:
Removal of dissolved gases
Constituents commonly affected by
aeration are:
Carbon dioxide, Methane,
Volatile organics, taste & odor
causing
volatile
compounds,
Hydrogen sulfide
oxygenation of water
Removal of iron and manganese

stituents commonly affected b

ation
Carbon Dioxide
Excessive amounts of carbon
dioxide (above 5-15 mg/L) in raw
water can cause three operating
problems:
Increases the acidity of the
water
Tends to keep iron in solution

stituents commonly affected b

ation
Methane
highly
flammable
and
explosive
tends to make the water
taste like garlic

stituents commonly affected b

ation
Volatile organics and taste & odor
causing volatile compounds
VOCs areorganic chemicals that have
a
highvapor
pressure
at
ordinaryroom temperature and some:
are dangerous to human health
can cause harm to theenvironment

stituents commonly affected b

ation
Hydrogen sulfide
Can cause:
Poisoning
Rotten-egg odor
Serious operational problems when
the water contains even small
amounts of hydrogen sulfide:
Disinfection
become
less
effective

moval of iron and manganese

xidation)

Primary application of aeration

in waste water treatment:
To supply oxygen to aerobic
biological treatment processes
Air stripping to remove toxic
volatile organics
Air stripping to remove volatile
compounds

Oxygen Supply
needed by bacteria
oxygen

biodegradation

provides oxygen
aeration

utilize oxygen
bacter
ia

bacter
ia

breakdown organic
matters

Air stripping

process
of
moving
air
through
contaminated water in an above-ground
treatment system
removes
chemicals
called
volatile
organic compounds or VOCs.

VOCs can change

from liquid to gas

passing air

therefore

easily
evaporates

aids and hastens

evaporation

TYPES OF AERATORS

water-into-air
method

air-into-water
method

Water-Into-Air Aerators

Cascade Aerators

Water-Into-Air Aerators

Cone Aerators

Water-Into-Air Aerators

Slat and Coke Aerators

Water-Into-Air Aerators

Draft Aerators

Water-Into-Air Aerators

Spray Aerators

Air-Into-Water Aerators

FINE BUBBLE

COARSE BUBBLE

Pressure Aerators

Air-Into-Water Aerators

Centrifugal Aerators

OPERATING
CONSIDERATIONS:
Corrosion
False Clogging of Filters
(Air Binding)
Slow
Removal
Hydrogen Sulfide

of

THREE BASIC CONTROL

TESTS ARE REQUIRED FOR
AERATION:
Dissolved oxygen
pH
Temperature