Enzyme Introduction

Genotech Inc. / USA

www.AmsolvUSA.com
 Function of Enzyme
The basis of biological wastewater treatment is
the use of bacterial population to convert soluble
organic matter in wastewater into insoluble
organic material (more bacteria) which then can
be physically removed from the wastewater
stream. The result is the elimination of oxygen
demanding organic chemicals from the
wastewater, this permits discharge or reuse of the
clean water.
Primary enzyme types of bacteria
• Bacillus:
rod shaped organisms.
Approximately 2 – 5 microns in
length and 1 – 2 microns in
diameter.
• Coccus:
spherical shaped organisms.
Approximately 1 – 2 microns in
diameter.
• Spirochetes:
spiral shaped organisms.
 Bacterial Development
• The bacillus cell is composed essentially of
proteinaceous material. Its primary directive is
to survive and reproduce.
• Reproduction or growth of bacterial
populations results in a conversion of
undesirable soluble organic materials present in
wastewater to cell material or protein.
• The soluble organic chemicals are removed
from the wastewater.
Biological growthnutrient requirements

• We can see that certain nutrient requirements

are the key to successful biological growth and
conversion of the soluble organic to the
insoluble (bacterial) form. It is also important
to remember that bacteria cannot survive
without the appropriate working
environment.
 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
• pH: Optimum pH for biotreater operation is
usually 6.5 – 7.5.
• TEMPERATURE: Optimum treatment
temperatures are generally between 20 C and
30 C.
• H2O: Water is a necessary medium for
survival of the microorganism.
Enzyme activity factor with temperature

 < 60 F Activity slows

 < 45 F No growth
 > 30 F Kills bacteria
 > 90 F Destroys enzymes –
inhibits bacteria
 > 105 F Kills bacteria
 Enzyme activity factor with Dissolved
Oxygen 2 mg/l – 7 mg/l

< 2 mg/l oxygen limited

 < 0.5 mg/l anaerobic
 > 7 mg/l slow growth or overdesign
 > 9 mg/l bacteria dead
Enzyme activity factor with Nutrient balance

BOD : N : P = 100 : 10 : 2

(keep residual of 1 – 2 ppm of NH3 – N and PO4 – (P

in effluent)
 Enzyme
Operation Limits with pH 6 - 9

pH

 < 6.5 Nitrification stops

 < 6.0 Activity slows
 < 5.0 Bacteria start to die
 < 4.0 Pickled bacteria
 > 9.0 Activity slows
 Enzyme
Operation Limits with NH3

NH3:

 Soluble effluent 1 mg/l (except when

nitrification is occurring)
 < 1 mg/l slow response to shocks
 < 0.2 mg/l inhibit growth
 BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 
ACTIVATED SLUDGE

1) BACTERIA SPLIT INTO IDENTICAL CELLS

A. Occurs every 20 to 30 minutes
B. 24 hours bacteria equal to Earth’s volume
C. Increased waste removal – food, oxygen &
nutrients
D. Treatment plants supply adequate oxygen and
nutrients
E. Food supply is limiting factor and affects
growth rate
 BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 
ACTIVATED SLUDGE

2) GROWTH/DEATH OF BACTERIA – FOUR PHASES

A. Phase I - Increasing growth rate – rapid bacterial
production
B. Phase II - Stationary – growth rate equal to death
rate
C. Phase III - Decreasing death phase
D. Phase IV - Endogenous – nutrients from
dying/lysed bacteria provide
other bacteria with food
 BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
3) TREATMENT TIME
 A. Residence time – bacteria reduce incoming,
organic load BOD down to levels below NPDES permit
 B. Phase I to Phase II – young bacteria – high sludge
production – sludge not stabilized / water demand
high / aerobic odors
 C. Phase III & IV – BOD removal high/sludge low –
high economic to maintain
 D. Sludge plants – maintain between Phase II & III
 BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 
ACTIVATED SLUDGE

4) TREATMENT PLANT – FACTORS – BESIDES

ECONOMICS
 A. Remove BOD and minimize solids
 B. Settle-ability of solids/bacteria enter death
phase, they secrete natural polymers and
enzymes forming a gelatinous matrix around
cell walls. Particles settle well.
 C. Phase I and Phase IV floc is dispersed
 BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 
ACTIVATED SLUDGE

5) RETENTION TIME: (RESIDENCE TIME OF

BACTERIA)
 A. Basin size
 B. Concentration of bacteria (MLSS)
 C. Aeration system (multiple)
 D. Sludge return to aeration basin or clarifier
 CONCENTRATION OF POLLUTANTS THAT MAKE
PREBIOLOGICAL OR PRIMARY TREATMENT ADVISABLE
Pollutant or System Condition Limiting Concentration Kind of Treatment
    Sedimentation, flotation, or
Suspended solids >50 to 125 mg/liter lagooning
Oil or grease >35 to 50 mg/liter Skimming tank or separator
Toxic ions   Precipitation or ion exchange
Pb  0.1 mg/liter  
Cu + NI + CN  1 mg/liter  
Cr-6 + Zn  3 mg/liter  
CR+3  10 mg/liter  
pH <6>9 Neutralization
  0.5 lb. alkalinity as CaCO3/lb. Neutralization for excessive
Alkalinity BOD removed alkalinity
Acidity Free mineral acidity Neutralization
Organic load variation > 2:1 to 4:1 Equalization
    Precipitation or stripping with
Sulfides > 100 mg/liter recovery
    Extraction, adsorption, or
Phenols > 70 to 300 mg/liter internal dilution
    Dilution, ion exchange, pH
Ammonia > 1.6 g/liter adjustment or stripping
Dissolved salts > 10 to 16 g/liter Dilution or ion exchange
Temperature 13 to 38 C in reactor Cooling or steam addition
 HEAVY METALS
METAL, CYANIDE & INORGANIC COMPOUND
CONCENTRATIONS
INHIBITING BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES (IN MG/L)
         
  Activated Nitrification Aerobic Anaerobic
Pollutant Sludge Fixed Film Digestion
Ammonia <480 N/A N/A 1,500 – 3,000
Arsenic 0.04 – 0.4 N/ABiological P r o290
cess 0.1 – 1
Boron 0.05 – 10 N/A N/A 2
Cadmium 0.5 - 10 5–9 5 – 20 0.02 – 1
Calcium 2,500 N/A N/A N/A
Chloride N/A 180 N/A 20,000
Chromium (Tot.) 0.1 – 20 0.25 – 1 50 1.5 – 50
Copper 0.1 – 1 0.05 0 0.5 25 – 50 0.5 – 100
Cyanide 0.05 – 20 0.3 – 20 N/A 0.10 – 4
Iodine 10 N/A N/A N/A
Iron 5 – 500 N/A N/A 5
Lead 0.1 – 10 0.5 – 1.7 N/A 50 – 250
Manganese 10 N/A N/A N/A
Magnesium N/A 50 N/A 1,000
Mercury 0.1 – 5.0 2 – 12.5 N/A 1,400
Nickel 1–5 0.25 – 5 N/A 2 – 200
Silver 0.03 – 5 0.25 N/A N/A
Sodium N/A N/A N/A 3,500
Sulfide >50 N/A N/A 50 – 100
Tin N/A N/A N/A 9
Vanadium 20 N/A N/A N/A
Zinc 0.30 – 20 0.01 – 1 N/A 1 – 10
 ALWAYS ASK!
FOR INDUSTRIAL PLANT: FOR AMMONIA PROBLEMS:

1. Is the flow continuous? 1. What caused Ammonia

upset?
2. What are the type of 2. Has sludge been wasted
plant operations and recently?
time of operations? 3. Has chlorine been used to
3. Are there any Wash achieve ammonia reduction?
4. What is the current percent of
Down Periods and what ammonia removal?
is used? 5. Is it an ammonia problem and
not an amine problem?
 ALWAYS ASK!
FOR HYDROCARBON OIL AND
GREASE: FOR PHENOLS:

What type of 1. What type of

hydrocarbons are to be phenols are used.
removed?
Are they floating on 2. What are the
basin or clarifier? influent, effluent
What are the level of
hydrocarbons and the
levels and permit
permit limits? levels?
 ALWAYS ASK!
FOR FILAMENTOUS PROBLEMS:
 1. What type of filamentous growth is it?
 2. What color is it?
 3. What is its texture?
 4. What is the amount of foam, its size and depth?
 5. How long is the sludge retention time in the clarifiers?
 6. Is there floating sludge in the clarifiers?
 7. Do you chlorinate or use Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)?
 8. Have there been any spills or upsets in operations?
 9. Have there been any plant shut downs?