Q.

For each type of decomposition (aerobic, anoxic, anaerobic), list the electron
acceptor, important end products, and relative advantages and disadvantages as a
waste treatment process.

A. Aerobic: O2, CO2 & H2O, minimum odor, stable byproducts/large amount of sludge
produced
Anoxic: NO3-, N2 & CO2 & H2O, denitrification/N2 gas might cause flotation of
sludge
Anaerobic: SO4-2 & CO2, CH4 & CO2 & H2S & H2O, small sludge volume/temperature
control, odor

Q. List the growth requirements of bacteria and explain why the bacterium needs
them.

A. A terminal electron acceptor, carbon and nitrogen for cell synthesis, phosphorus
for ATP, trace metals, moisture, temperature, pH

Q. Explain the difference b/w pretreatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment,

and tertiary treatment, and show how they are related.

A. Pretreatment: prevents damage to the treatment facility. large objects and grit
are removed by bar racks or grit chambers.
Primary treatment: remove organic suspended solids. primary sedimentation basin.
Secondary treatment: removes the soluble BOD and remove further suspended solids.
Trickling filters, activated sludge, or oxdation pond are used.
Tertiary treatment: to remove some minor pollutants that escaped from secondary
treatment. Filtration, adsorption by AC, P and N removal are the main treatments.

Q. Define and explain the purpose of equalization.

A. Equalization is a facility to make the flow of incoming wastewater equalize in

order to treat the wastewater at constant flow rate.

Q. Sketch, label, and explain the function of the parts of an activated sludge
plant and a trickling filter plant.

A. Trickling filter plant: wastewater pass through course materials where

microorganisms attach to, so biological oxidation of the organic matter can occur.
Activated sludge: in aeration tank, organic material in wastewater is oxidized by
microorganisms and biological flocs are formed. In secondary settling tank, the
biological flocs are settled down and the sludge is either returned to the aeration
basin or treated further.

Q. Define SRT (or sludge age) and explain its use in regulating the AS process.

A. average amount of time that microorganisms are kept in the system. It is used
for controling microorganisms to degrade BOD most efficiently.

Q. Explain the purpose of the F/M ratio and define F and M in terms of BOD5 and
MLVSS.

A. F = Food = organic materials = BOD5

M = microorganisms = mixed liquor volatile suspended solids
Purpose: to determine return sludge volume

Q. Explain the relationship between F/M and SRT.

A. long SRT = low F/M

short SRT = high F/M
Q. Explain how cell production is regulated using F/M and/or SRT.

A. long SRT/low F/M: less new cell production because food is less available
short SRT/high F/M = new cell production increases because more microbes are
saturated with food

Q. Compare two systems operating at two different F/M ratios.

A. high F/M: efficiency of treatment is poor

low F/M: microbes are starved, thus less waste is used for cell synthesis. -> less
sludge to handle

Q. Define SVI and explain its use in the design and operation of an activated
sludge plant.

A. Sludge volume index: measurement of settleability of sludge and maintain

sufficient concentration of activated sludge.

Q. Explain the difference b/w bulking sludge and rising sludge and what
circumstances cause each to occur.

A. Bulking sludge: poor settling and compactability because of filamentous

organisms and water trapped in bacterial floc.
Rising sludge: sludge floats on the surface because of gas bubble from
denitrification.

Q. List and explain the relationship of the five types of oxidation pond to oxygen.

A. Aerobic ponds: DO is maintained throughout the entire depth so aerobic bacteria

can degrade OM.
Anaerobic ponds: deep ponds that anaerobic conditions are maintained.
Facultative ponds: most common treatment system in small community. Upper part is
aerobic, middle is facultative, and lower part is anaerobic.
Maturation ponds: polishing effluents.
Aerated lagoons: ponds oxygenated through the action of surface or diffused
aeration.

Q. Explain what an RBC is and how it works.

A. Rotating biological contactor: set up between primary and secondary

sedimentation. Microbes in WW adhere to rotating surfaces and make microbial
layers. As discs rotate, oxygen is absorbed and microbial slime can oxidize organic
materials.

Q. Compare the positive and negative effects of disinfection of wastewater

effluents.

A. Positive: removal of pathogens

Negaitive: taste/odor problem due to chlorination. Chlorine and ozone cause
carcinogenic organic compounds. Killing predators of pathogens.

Q. List the four common advanced WW treatment processes and the pollutants they
remove.

A. Filtration: residual BOD, unsettled bacteria.

Carbon adsorption: soluble organic materials persistant to microbial breakdown.
Phosphorus removal: chemical precipitation of HPO4-2 by ferric chloride, alum, or
lime.
Nitrogen control: removal of NH4+. NO3-, NO2-

Q. Describe refractory organics and the mothod used to remove them.

A. refractory organics are the organic materials persistant to biological

breakdown. activated carbon can be used for removal.

Q. Explain biological nitrification and denitrification either by words or with an

equation.

A. Nitrification: NH4+ + 2O2 <-> NO3- + H2O + 2H+

Denitrification: 2NO3- + organic matter -> N2 + CO2 + H2O

Q. Describe the three basic approaches to land treatment of wastewater.

A. Slow rate: spray of treated ww on crops and soil land (evapotransration and
percolation)
overland flow: ww is applied on the upper reaches of sloped land and flows across
the vegetated surface to runoff collection ditches.
Rapid infiltration: water goes through soil matrix

Q. State the major purpose of sludge treatment.

A. Sludge is mostly water, so separation of water from solid residues is necessary.

Q. Explain the purpose of each of the sludge treatment steps and describe the major
processes used.

A. Thickening: separating as much as water from sludge by gravity

Stabilization: converting the organic solids into more inert forms that they can be
used as soil conditioners.
Conditioning: treating the sludge with chemicals or heat so that the water is
separated
Sludge dewatering: subjecting the sludge to vacuum, pressure or drying
Reduction: converting the solids to a stabile form by wet oxidation or incineration

Q. Describe the locations for ultimate disposal of sludges and the treatment steps
needed prior to ultimate disposal.

A. Land spreading: for recovering nutrients, water, or mine spoils. Condition of

soil, ability of plants or forests should be checked before use.
Landfilling: planned burial of ww solids
Dedicated land disposal (DLD): land only used for heavy sludge loadings

Q. State the two major purposes of sludge stabilization.

A. The purpose of sludge stabilization is to make the sludge less odorous and
putrescible and to reduce the pathogens that pose a health risk.

Q. What is wastewater pretreatment?

A. Bar rack, grit chamber, equalisation basin. The treatment of wastewater by

commercial and industrial facilities to remove harmful pollutants before being
discharged to a sewer system under the control of a publicly owned treatment works
(POTWs).

Q. What are the objectives of wastewater Pretreatment?

A. - prevent interference with the operation of your wastewater treatment plant

- prevent the introduction of pollutants that could pass through your wastewater
treatment plant untreated and into the receiving body of water

- improve opportunities for reuse or recycling of wastewater and sewage sludge

- prevent the introduction of pollutants that could cause health or safety problems
to the public or the environmentQ. What is bar rack?

A. x Bar Rack (or Bar Screens)- Comes in pairs (two channels).- To remove large
objects.- Protects valves, pumps, other mechanical equipments.- Solid materials
removed to sanitary landfill.

Q. What is grit chamber?

A. x To remove discrete particlesx Grit inert dense material sand, broken

glass, silt, pebbles (about 1mm) . Based on: grit is heavier than the organic
solids in suspension.

- Abrade pumps & other mechanical devices causing undue wear.- Settle in corner and
bends, reducing flow capacity, clogging pipesand channels.

x 3 basics types of grit-removal devices

- Velocity-controlled (horizontal-flow grit chamber).
- Aerated.- Constant-level short-term sedimentation basin.

Q. What is comminutors?
A.
- To chop up WW solids (rags, paper, plastics etc) by revolving bars.- Reduce size
of solids entering the plant; avoid mechanical problem and clogging.- Placed
downstream of grit chambers to protect cutting bars.

Q. What is equalisation basin?

A.
- Not a treatment process.- Used to dampen the variation in amount (flow) and
strength of WW (BOD loading).- Can significantly improve the performance of
existing plant and increase its useful capacity. In new plants, can reduce the size
and cost (treatment units).- Usually achieved by constructing a large basin that
collects the waterflow, and pump to the treatment plant at a constant rate.-
Adequate aeration and mixing must be provided to prevent odors and deposition of
solids.

Q. What is Primary treatment?

A. Pretreatment + primary settling (sedimentation basin). With the screening

completed and the grit removed, the wastewater still contains light organic
suspended solids, some of which can be removed from the sewage by gravity in a
sedimentation tank. These tanks can be round or rectangular. The mass of settled
solids is called raw sludge The sludge is removed from the sedimentation tank by
mechanical scrapers and pumps. Floating materials such as grease and oil, rise to
the surface of the sedimentation tank., where they are collected by a surface
skimming system and recovered from the tank for further processing.

Q. What are the objectives of Primary Treatment of Wastewater?

A.
- To produce a liquid effluent of suitably improved quality for the next treatment
stage (i.e.) secondary biological treatment.
- To active a solids separation resulting in a primary sludge that can be
conveniently treated and disposed of.
Q. What are the benefits of Primary Treatment?

A.
- Reduction in suspension solids
- Reduction in BOD
- Reduction in the amount of waste activated sludge (WAS) in the activated-sludge
plant.
- Removal of floating materials (oil and geese).
- partial equalization of flow rates and organic load.

Q. What are the design Criteria for Primary Treatment Plants?

A.
- Basic overflow rate (surface loading m3/m2-d)
- Depth
- Surface geometry
- Hydraulic retention time
- Weir rate ( m3/d-m)

Q. What is sedimentation basin (primary tanks)?

A. The primary sedimentation tanks are designed to reduce the velocity of the
wastewater flow for organic solids (called raw sludge) to settle. Scrapers present
in the tank move continuously along the floor of the tank to deposit the raw sludge
in hoppers for removal. The scum which floats to the surface is directed by water
jets to the sludge sump. The raw sludge is then pumped to the sludge digesters for
biological treatment. Approximately 60% of suspended solids and 35% of BOD removal
efficiency can be achieved at this stage.

Q. What are the types of primary sedimentation tanks?A.

- Rectangular tank.- Circular tank.

Q. What are the factors affecting sedimentation efficiency?

A.
- Viscosity. - Concentration of suspended solids. - Retention period. - Horizontal
velocity. - Temperature. - Surface loading rate = 24 - 48 m/m/day.

Q. What is secondary treatment?

A. Primary treatment + biological settling + secondary settling. The objective of

secondary treatment is the further treatment of the effluent from primary treatment
to remove the residual organics and suspended solids. In most cases, secondary
treatment follows primary treatment and involves the removal of biodegradable
dissolved and colloidal organic matter using aerobic biological treatment
processes. Aerobic biological treatment (see Box) is performed in the presence of
oxygen by aerobic microorganisms (principally bacteria) that metabolize the organic
matter in the wastewater, thereby producing more microorganisms and inorganic end-
products (principally CO2, NH3, and H2O). Several aerobic biological processes are
used for secondary treatment differing primarily in the manner in which oxygen is
supplied to the microorganisms and in the rate at which organisms metabolize the
organic matter.

Q. What is Activated Sludge process (biological settling treatment)?

A. In the activated sludge process, the dispersed-growth reactor is an aeration

tank or basin containing a suspension of the wastewater and microorganisms, the
mixed liquor. The contents of the aeration tank are mixed vigorously by aeration
devices which also supply oxygen to the biological suspension . Aeration devices
commonly used include submerged diffusers that release compressed air and
mechanical surface aerators that introduce air by agitating the liquid surface.
Hydraulic retention time in the aeration tanks usually ranges from 3 to 8 hours but
can be higher with high BOD5 wastewaters. Following the aeration step, the
microorganisms are separated from the liquid by sedimentation and the clarified
liquid is secondary effluent. A portion of the biological sludge is recycled to the
aeration basin to maintain a high mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) level. The
remainder is removed from the process and sent to sludge processing to maintain a
relatively constant concentration of microorganisms in the system. Several
variations of the basic activated sludge process, such as extended aeration and
oxidation ditches, are in common use, but the principles are similar.

Q. What is trickling filters?

A. A trickling filter or biofilter consists of a basin or tower filled with support

media such as stones, plastic shapes, or wooden slats. Wastewater is applied
intermittently, or sometimes continuously, over the media. Microorganisms become
attached to the media and form a biological layer or fixed film. Organic matter in
the wastewater diffuses into the film, where it is metabolized. Oxygen is normally
supplied to the film by the natural flow of air either up or down through the
media, depending on the relative temperatures of the wastewater and ambient air.
Forced air can also be supplied by blowers but this is rarely necessary. The
thickness of the biofilm increases as new organisms grow. Periodically, portions of
the film 'slough off the media. The sloughed material is separated from the liquid
in a secondary clarifier and discharged to sludge processing. Clarified liquid from
the secondary clarifier is the secondary effluent and a portion is often recycled
to the biofilter to improve hydraulic distribution of the wastewater over the
filter.

Q.