Explaining the Activated Sludge Process

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T is to everyone s advan-tage for a community tobe able to treat itswastewater in the mosteconomical way. The activatedsludge Process has the advantage ofproducing a high quality effluent fora reasonable operating and mainte-nance costs. The Activated Sludge Process usesmicroorganisms to feed on organiccontaminants in wastewater, produc-ing a high-quality effluent. The basicprinciple behind all Activated sludgeprocesses is that as microorganismsgrow, they form particles that clumptogether. These particles (floc) areallowed to settle to the bottom of thetank, leaving a relatively clear liquidfree of organic material and suspend-ed simply, screened waste-water is mixed with varying amountsof recycled liquid containing a highproportion of organisms taken from asecondary clarifying tank, and itbecomes a product called mixedliquor. This mixture is stirred andinjected with large quantities of air,to provide oxygen and keep solids insuspension. After a period of time,mixed liquor flows to a clarifierwhere it is allowed to settle.

t is to everyone’s advan-tage for a community to be able to treat its wastewater in the most economical way. The activated sludge process has the advantage of

  Activated, Sludge, Activated sludge