International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2017, pp. 376–382, Article ID: IJCIET_08_09_044

Available online at http://http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=9
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

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PERFORMANCE STUDY FOR TREATMENT OF

INSTITUTIONAL WASTEWATER BY
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
S K Shivaranjani
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, india

Lisa Mary Thomas

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore india

ABSTRACT
Treatment of waste water involves a variety of methods. Biological treatment using
aerobic activated sludge process has been in practice over a century. Conventional
Activated Sludge Process (ASP) is the most common and oldest bio treatment process
used to treat municipal and industrial wastewater. Typically wastewater after primary
treatment i.e. suspended impurities removal is treated in an activated sludge process
based biological treatment system comprising aeration tank followed by secondary
clarifier. The aeration tank is a completely mixed bioreactor where specific
concentration of biomass (measured as mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) is
maintained along with sufficient dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (typically 2
mg/l) to effect biodegradation of soluble organic impurities measured as biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD 5 days). The Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) is varied in the
range 3 - 8 hrs. The maximum BOD removal efficiency obtained was 93.7% and
turbidity removal efficiency was 87.6% in the 8 hrs HRT.
Keywords: Activated Sludge Process, Removal Efficiency, BOD, COD, MLSS
Cite this Article: S K Shivaranjani and Lisa Mary Thomas, Performance Study for
treatment of Institutional Wastewater by Activated Sludge Process, International
Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(9), 2017, pp. 376–382.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=9

1. INTRODUCTION
The organic material present in the primary effluent, which overflows the primary settling
tanks exhibits certain characteristics which require additional forms of treatment. This organic
material is comprised of dissolved and finely divided suspended or, colloidal solids which
account for the turbid appearance of the primary effluent. By nature, the dissolved organic
material present in the influent will remain in solution in the liquid flow during primary

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 Performance Study for treatment of Institutional Wastewater by Activated Sludge Process

treatment. The colloidal solids present are very small in size and mass and do not settle during
primary treatment. It is not possible or practical to increase the detention time of the
wastewater in the primary tanks in an effort to remove these colloidal solids. Increased
detention times would promote the development of septic conditions within the settling tanks
and solids removal efficiencies would actually decrease. To treat the primary effluent waste
stream a secondary biological treatment process is used known as the activated sludge
process. The shortage of water and accumulation of waste urges a demand in the treatment of
waste water. Also there is a need in producing more pure water for drinking purpose and reuse
of treated water. The Institutional waste water is from the source of domestic waste, which
contains high amount of organic and inorganic impurities such as BOD, COD, and Turbidity.
The treatment of waste water involves removal of BOD and Turbidity.

2. WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

2.1. PRIMARY TREATMENT
In the primary sedimentation stage, sewage flows through large tanks, commonly called "pre-
settling basins", "primary sedimentation tanks" or "primary clarifiers. The tanks are used to
settle sludge while grease and oils rise to the surface and are skimmed off. Primary settling
tanks are usually equipped with mechanically driven scrapers that continually drive the
collected sludge towards a hopper in the base of the tank where it is pumped to sludge
treatment facilities.

2.2. SECONDARY TREATMENT

Secondary treatment is designed to the treat the settled sewage liquor using aerobic biological
processes. To be effective, the microbes require both oxygen and food to live. The bacteria
and protozoa consume biodegradable soluble organic contaminants (e.g. sugars, fats, organic
short-chain carbon molecules, etc.) and bind much of the less soluble fractions into floc.
Secondary treatment systems are classified as fixed-film or suspended-growth systems.

2.3. TERTIARY TREATMENT

The purpose of tertiary treatment is to provide a final treatment stage to further improve the
effluent quality before it is discharged to the receiving environment (sea, river, lake, wet
lands, ground, etc.). More than one tertiary treatment process may be used at any treatment
plant. If disinfection is practiced, it is always the final process. It is also called "effluent
polishing.”

3. BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
Biological treatment is an important and integral part of any wastewater treatment plant that
treats wastewater from either municipality or industry having soluble organic impurities or a
mix of the two types of wastewater sources. The obvious economic advantage, both in terms
of capital investment and operating costs, of biological treatment over other treatment
processes like chemical oxidation; thermal oxidation etc. has cemented its place in any
integrated wastewater treatment plant. Biological treatment using aerobic activated sludge
process has been in practice for well over a century.
Types of Biological process
1. Activated sludge
2. Aerated lagoon
3. Aerobic granulation

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 S K Shivaranjani and Lisa Mary Thomas

4. Constructed wetland
5. Membrane bioreactor
6. Rotating biological contactor
7. Sequencing batch reactor
8. Trickling filter
To use less space, treat difficult waste, and intermittent flows, a number of designs of
hybrid treatment plants have been produced. Such plants often combine at least two stages of
the three main treatment stages into one combined stage.

4. CONVENTIONAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

Conventional biological treatment of wastewater under aerobic conditions includes activated
sludge process (ASP) and Trickling Filter. The activated sludge process consists of an
aeration tank, where organic matter is stabilized by the action of bacteria under aeration and a
secondary sedimentation tank (SST), where the biological cell mass is separated from the
effluent of aeration tank and the settle sludge is recycled partly to the aeration tank and
remaining is wasted Recycling is necessary for activated sludge process. The aeration
conditions are achieved by the use of diffused or mechanical aeration.
Diffusers are provided at the tank bottom, and mechanical aerators are provided at the
surface of water, either floating or on fixed support. Settled raw wastewater and the returned
sludge enter the head of the tank, and cross the tank following the spiral flow pattern, in case
of diffused air aeration, or get completely mixed in case of completely mixed reactor. The air
supply may be tapered along the length in case of plug flow aeration tank, to match the
quantity of oxygen demand. The effluent is settled in the settling tank and the sludge is
returned at a desired rate.

5. TYPES OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

5.1. CONVENTIONAL AERATION
In conventional ASP the flow model in aeration tank is plug flow type. Both the influent
wastewater and recycled sludge enter at the head of the tank and are aerated for about 5 to 6
hours for sewage treatment. The influent and recycled sludge are mixed by the action of the
diffusers or mechanical aerators. During the aeration period the adsorption, flocculation and
oxidation of organic matter takes place. The F/M ratio of 0.2 to 0.4 kg BOD/kg VSS.d and
volumetric loading rate of 0.3 to 0.6 kg BOD/m3.d is used for designing. Lower mixed liquor
suspended solids (MLSS) concentration is maintained in the aeration tank of the order of 1500
to 3000 mg/L and mean cell residence time of 5 to 15 days is maintained. The hydraulic
retention time (HRT) of 4 to 8 hrs is required for sewage treatment. Higher HRT may be
required for treatment of industrial wastewater having higher BOD concentration. The sludge
recirculation ratio is generally in the range of 0.25 to 0.5.

Figure 1 Conventional Aeration

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 Performance Study for treatment of Institutional Wastewater by Activated Sludge Process

5.2. TAPERED AERATION

In plug flow type aeration tank BOD load is maximum at the inlet and it reduces as
wastewater moves towards the effluent end. Hence, accordingly in tapered aeration maximum
air is applied at the beginning and it is reduced in steps towards end, hence it is called as
tapered aeration. By tapered aeration the efficiency of the aeration unit will be increased and
it will also result in overall economy. The F/M ratio and volumetric loading rate of 0.2 to 0.4
kg BOD/kg VSS.d and 0.3 to 0.6 kg BOD/m3.d, respectively, are adopted in design. Other
design recommendation are mean cell residence time of 5 to 15 days, MLSS of 1500 to 3000
mg/L, HRT of 4 to 8 hrs and sludge recirculation ratio of 0.25 to 0.5. Although, the design
loading rates are similar to conventional ASP, tapered aeration gives better performance.

Figure 2 Tapered Aeration

5.3. STEP AERATION

If the sewage is added at more than one point along the aeration channel, the process is called
as step aeration. This will reduce the load on returned sludge. The aeration is uniform
throughout the tank. The F/M ratio and volumetric loading rate of 0.2 to 0.4 kg BOD/kg
VSS.d and 0.6 to 1.0 kg BOD/m3.d, respectively, are adopted in design. Other design
recommendation are mean cell residence time of 5 to 15 days, MLSS of 2000 to 3500 mg/L,
HRT of 3 to 5 hrs and sludge recirculation ratio of 0.25 to 0.75. In step aeration the design
loading rates are slightly higher than conventional ASP. Because of reduction of organic load
on the return sludge it gives better performance.

6. METHODOLOGY
Sample collection from institutional treatment
plant

Characterization of Institutional wastewater

Setting up of lab-scale ASP reactor

Effect of various aeration time (3, 4, 5, 6, 8hrs) at

constant fill, anoxic, settling and decant time

Treated Effluent Characterization such as BOD,

pH, Turbidity

Optimization of operating variables of ASP

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 S K Shivaranjani and Lisa Mary Thomas

6.1. CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE WATER

Table 1 Characteristics of Waste Water
CPHEEO 2012
OBTAINED
S.NO PARAMETER (Permissible limit for
VALUE
irrigation)
1 pH 8.7 5.5-9.0
2 Turbidity 650 NTU 200 NTU
3 BOD 630 mg/l 100 mg/l
4 COD 940 mg/l -
5 Chlorides 1780 mg/l -
6 Sulphates 960 mg/l
7 Ammonical nitrogen 400 mg/l -
8 Total hardness 1250 mg/l -
9 Calcium Hardness 1015 mg/l -

6.2. REACTOR SETUP

Peristaltic
Collect
io Pump

Sedimentati

Figure 3 Reactor Setup

The waste water is pumped to the aeration tank by peristaltic pump from the collection
tank. The waste water is filled in the tank by leaving the freeboard space. The air is supplied
by using the diffuser. After the aeration process, the waste water is moved to the
sedimentation tank. The sludge which settled down in the sedimentation tank is then
recirculated into the aeration tank for the next process for maintain the MLSS concentration
.The process is continued till the maximum efficiency is attained by varying the run time. The
BOD and Turbidity is tested for the treated water at various runtime.

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 Performance Study for treatment of Institutional Wastewater by Activated Sludge Process

7. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

7.1. CHARACTERISTICS OF TREATED WASTE WATER
Table 2 Characteristics of Treated Waste Water

Reaction time
Parameters
3 Hrs 4 Hrs 6 Hrs 7 Hrs 8 Hrs
pH 8 7.9 7.9 7.2 6.8
Turbidity (NTU) 570 490 385 240 80
BOD (mg/l) 495 444 335 195 40

Figure 4 Removal Efficiency

8. CONCLUSION
Based on this work on treatment of waste water by Activated Sludge Process, the following
results are concluded: After the treatment process the treated water characteristics like pH,
Turbidity, BOD were found to be within the limits specified by the CPHEEO 2012.The
characteristic like BOD was reduced to 40 mg/l at 93.7% efficiency and Turbidity was
reduced to 80 NTU at 87.6% efficiency (The specified limit as per CPHEEO 2012.). Thus
treatment of Institutional wastewater using Activated Sludge Process for BOD and Turbidity
reduction is found to be a very effective and economical method.It is suggest that the
Institutional Waste water can be treated by ASP for 8 hrs process, so that it can be used for
Irrigation and Gardening purpose.

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