WHAT IS BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT?
In very simple terms, a biological wastewater treatment system is a technology that primarily uses bacteria, some protozoa, and possibly other speciality microbes to clean water. When these microorganisms break down organic pollutants for food, they stick together, which creates a flocculation effect allowing the organic matter to settle out of the solution with the help of ZLD. This produces a very easy-to-manage composition called sludge, which is then dewatered and disposed of as solid waste.
TYPICALLY BROKEN OUT INTO THREE MAIN CATEGORIES, BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT CAN BE:
- aerobic, when microorganisms require oxygen to break down organic matter to carbon dioxide and microbial biomass
- anaerobic, when microorganisms do not require oxygen to break down organic matter, often forming methane, carbon dioxide, and excess biomass
- anoxic, when microorganisms use other molecules than oxygen for growth, such as for the removal of sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, selenate, and selenite
The organic contaminants these microorganisms decompose are often measured in biological oxygen demand, or BOD, which refers to the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic organisms to break down organic matter into smaller molecules. High levels of BOD indicate an elevated concentration of biodegradable material present in the wastewater and can be caused by the introduction of pollutants such as industrial discharges, domestic faecal wastes, or fertilizer runoff.
When pollutant levels are elevated, BOD can deplete the oxygen needed by other aquatic organisms to live, leading to algal blooms, fish kills, and harmful changes to the aquatic ecosystem where the wastewater is discharged. Because of this, many facilities are required to treat their wastes, perhaps biologically, prior to discharge—but it’s the level of organic and inorganic pollutants in relation to their discharge requirements that will dictate what specific unit operations a facility’s biological wastewater treatment system will need and how they are sequenced and operated.
In short, biological industrial wastewater treatment systems optimize the naturally occurring process of microbial decomposition to break down industrial wastewater contaminants so that they, along with other unwanted materials, can be removed. They also often replace (and are sometimes used alongside) physical and chemical treatments, which can be among the pricier treatment alternatives.
HOW DOES A BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM WORK?
Depending on the chemical makeup of the wastewater in relation to the effluent requirements, a biological wastewater treatment system might be composed of several different processes and numerous types of microorganisms. They will also require specific operational procedures that will vary depending on the environment needed to keep biomass growth rates optimal for the specific microbial populations. For example, it often is required to monitor and adjust aeration to maintain a consistent dissolved oxygen level to keep the system’s bacteria multiplying at the appropriate rate to meet discharge requirements.
In addition to dissolved oxygen, biological systems often need to be balanced for flow, load, pH, temperature, and nutrients. Balancing a combination of system factors is where the biological treatment process can become very complex. Below are examples of some common types of biological wastewater treatment systems, including a brief description of how they function within an industrial wastewater treatment regimen to give you an idea of the types of technologies and systems that might benefit your industrial facility.
Advantages
Lowest Sludge Generation – The Sludge Generated in the biological treatment is lowest in volume, since its free, and can be further treated to dry out and convert into salts for disposal.
Sludge generates is chemical-free – Sludge generated is free from harmful chemicals, in fact, the outlet contains much lesser the toxins before the treatment serving the purpose.
Higher Reduction In Effluent Parameters – The effluent treatment parameters such as COD, BOD are what determines whether the water is fit for disposal in the environment or need further treatment, biological guarantees better result that meets the parameters laid out by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Economic Operation than Chemical Treatment – The chemicals required for water treatment in other processes can be very expensive at times, and may need additional treatments to remove the toxins from those chemicals, and thus are far from economic.
Easy To operate – Such forms of water treatment require much less man-power and are hassle-free, making them the most considerable option if looking for wastewater treatment solutions.
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