Public Health Engg

Module 5
Trickling filter process is one of the types of aerobic wastewater treatment. It is a fixed-bed
bioreactor that is the part of secondary wastewater treatment, which eliminates the coarse
particles, suspended organic and inorganic waste, small colloids etc. out of the primary effluent.
A trickling filter is also called biological filter, as it makes the use of active microbial mass as a
bioweapon to degrade the waste out of primary sewage.

Process Description

• The wastewater in trickling filter is distributed over the top area of a vessel containing non-
submerged packing material.
• Air circulation in the void space, by either natural draft or blowers, provides oxygen for
the microorganisms growing as an attached biofilm.
• During operation, the organic material present in the wastewater is metabolised by the
biomass attached to the medium. The biological slime grows in thickness as the organic
matter abstracted from the flowing wastewater is synthesized into new cellular material.
• The thickness of the aerobic layer is limited by the depth of penetration of oxygen into the
microbial layer.
• The micro-organisms near the medium face enter the endogenous phase as the substrate is
metabolised before it can reach the micro-organisms near the medium face as a result of
increased thickness of the slime layer and loose their ability to cling to the media surface.
The liquid then washes the slime off the medium and a new slime layer starts to grow. This
phenomenon of losing the slime layer is called sloughing.
• The sloughed off film and treated wastewater are collected by an underdrainage which also
allows circulation of air through filter. The collected liquid is passed to a settling tank used
for solid- liquid separation.

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CONSTRUCTION

It consist of mainly four parts:

1. Water tight holding tank.

2. Distribution system.
3. Filter media.
4. Underdrainage system.

1.Water tight holding tank.

➢ The tank is either rectangular or square if fixed nozzles are used, and circular in shape if
rotary distributors are used.
➢ As rotary distributors are more reliable & easy to maintain and operate. So circular shape
is most commonly used.
➢ The walls are either masonry or concrete walls
➢ The walls are constructed such that they should withstand the pressure exerted by
sewage from inside.
➢ The walls are made water tight

2.Distribution system.

➢ The rotary distributor is used for spraying the waste water over the filter media of the
Trickling Filters because of its reliability and ease of maintenance.

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➢ The rotary distributor consists of a hollow vertical central column carrying two or more
radial pipes or arms, each of which contains a number of nozzles or orifices for discharging
the waste water onto the filter media.
➢ All of these nozzles point in the same direction at right angles to the arms. The force of the
water causes the spray heads to rotate above the media, acting like a sprinkler and evenly
distributing waste water across the media.
➢ The rotary reaction is furnished by a head of 450 to 600 mm. The speed of revolution will
vary with the flow rate, but it should be in the range of one revolution in 10 minutes or less
for a two-arm distributor.
➢ The liquid influent is piped through the bottom of the Trickling water treatment Filters to
the distribution (rotating arm) heads, at the top of the trickling filter.
➢ A clearance of 150 to 250 mm should be allowed between the bottom of the distributor arm
and top of the media. This will permit the waste streams from the nozzles to spread out and
cover the media uniformly.
➢ Some cases, especially square or rectangular Trickling Filters, fixed flat-spray nozzles have
been used.

3. Filter media

Trickling filters may have a variety of types of filter media used to support the biofilm.
Types of media most commonly used include coke, pumice, plastic matrix material, clinker,
gravel, sand and geotextiles.

Filter media should have

• High specific surface area and high percent void space

• Resistance to abrasion or disintegration during placement
• Insolubility in sewage or wastewater

4. Under drain System

The under drain system collects treated wastewater and solids discharged from the filter media and
conveys them to a sedimentation tank. The system is located below, or underneath, the filter media
and operates by gravity flow.

➢ It has a sloped bottom which directs flow to a central channel

➢ It provides support for the filter media, which sits on top of the under drain system
➢ It allows air circulation through the media. The requirement for free passage of air controls
the size of openings in the under drain
➢ The under drain system is typically composed of either: Vitrified clay blocks or Fiber glass
grating over collection troughs

5. Ventilation

➢ Natural ventilation takes place because of difference in temperature of air and sewage.

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➢ Sometimes forced ventilation is also provided

Types of Filters

Trickling filters are classified based on the organic and hydraulic loading applied to the unit.

1. Low rate or standard rate trickling filters: 0.08 to 0.30 kg BOD(5)/cum-day

2. High rate trickling filters: 0.5 to 1.0kg BOD(5)/cum-day
3. Super rate trickling filters: 1-2 kgBOD(5)/cum-day

Based on the number of units used in series

4. Single-stage trickling filter

5. Two-stage trickling filter

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wo

Single stage

Two stage

Trickling filter operating problems

1. Ponding:- is normally the result of:

(a) excessive organic loading without a corresponding higher recirculation rate,

(b) use of media which is too small,
(c) clogging of underdrain system,
(d) non-uniform media size or breaking up of media, and
(e) trash or debris in filter voids.

Ponding can be eliminated by:

1. Shutting off the flow to the filter.The growths will die and tend to be flushed out when
the unit is put back into service.
2. Stirring or agitating ponding area with stick, rake, etc.
3. Dosing the filter with chlorine.
4. Flooding filter and keeping the media submerged for approximately 24 hours will
sometimes cause the growth to slough. Growths become anaerobic and tend to release
from media.

2. Odors

• Since the trickling filter is an aerobic process, no serious odors should exist.
• If foul odors are present, anaerobic conditions are the most likely cause.
• Anaerobic conditions usually predominate next to the media surface. If the surface of the
slime growth is aerobic, odors should be minimal.
• If odors are present, corrective action should be taken immediately or the condition could
get worse.

Some corrective measures are:

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1. Try to maintain aerobic condition in the collection system and in the primary treatment
units.
2. Check the ventilation of the filter for clogging and stoppages.
3. Check the under drain system for clogging and stoppages.
4. Keep wastewater in filter; do not allow it to splash on exposed surfaces, weeds, or grass.
5. Add odor-masking agents.
6. Pre-chlorination at primary tank influent or at the dosing tank.
7. Increase recirculation rate; this usually provides added oxygen to the filter and may
increase sloughing

3. Filter Flies

Filter flies are a nuisance to plant personnel and nearby neighbors. These tiny, gnat-size flies are
called psychoda. They are occasionally found in great numbers, preferring an alternate wet and
dry environment for development. Lay their eggs in ponded water. The flies are most frequently
found in low or standard rate filters with an intermittent dosing system.

Control can be accomplished by:

1. Flooding the filter intermittently to prevent completion of the fly life cycle. This life cycle
can be as short as seven days in warm weather. Filters should be flooded for
approximately 24 hours.
2. Increasing recirculation. A continuous waste flow to the filter will tend to wash fly larvae
from the filter.
3. Flushing or washing the side walls of the filter by opening the flap valve at the end of the
distributor arm.
4. Keeping the plant grounds neat, clean and free from excessive weeds, plants, and grass,
which are excellent breeding grounds for the flies.
5. The addition of chlorine, which is toxic to the flies and larvae.

4.ICING

Potential Cause: Low temperature of wastewater

• Remedy:

✓ Decrease recirculation;
✓ use high-pressure stream of water to remove ice from orifices, nozzles, and
distributor arms;
✓ Reduce number of filters in service as long as effluent limits can still be met;
✓ reduce retention time in pre-treatment and primary treatment units;
✓ construct windbreak or covers

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5.ROTATING DISTRIBUTOR SLOWS DOWN OR STOPS

➢ Potential Cause: Insufficient flow to turn distributor.

➢ Remedy: Increase hydraulic loading
➢ Potential Cause: Clogged arms or orifices
➢ Remedy: Flush out arms by opening end plates; remove solids from influent wastewater;
flush out orifices
➢ Potential Cause: Clogged distributor arm vent pipe
➢ Remedy: Remove material from vent pipe by rodding or flushing; remove solids from
influent wastewater
➢ Potential Cause: Distributor arms not level and Distributing rods hitting media
➢ Remedy: Level Media; remove some media

ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTOR:

A rotating biological contractor (RBC) is an attached-growth biological process that consists of
one or more basins in which large closely-spaced circular disks mounted on horizontal shafts rotate
slowly through waste-water. The disks are made of high-density polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). These discs are about 3m in diameter, 10mm thick and placed at 30-40mm on centers along
shaft of various length. The discs are submerged in wastewater to about 40% of their diameter.
Approximately 95% of the surface area is thus alternately submerged in wastewater and then
exposed to the atmosphere above the liquid. So that a bacterial slime layer forms on their wetted
surfaces .These discs are spaced so that during submergence wastewater can enter between the
surfaces. The shafts rotate at 1 to 2 revolutions per minute.

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Organic matter is degraded by means of mechanisms similar to those operating in the trickling
filters process. In operation, biological growth become attached to the surfaces of the discs and
eventually form a silm or slime layer over the entire wetted surface area of the discs. As the disks
rotate, the bacteria are exposed alternately to waste-water, from which they adsorb organic matter,
and to air, from which they absorb oxygen. The disc rotation effects oxygen transfer and maintains
the biomass in an aerobic condition. The rotary movement also allows excess bacteria to be
removed from the surfaces of the disks and maintains a suspension of sloughed biological solids.
A final clarifier is needed to remove sloughed solids. Partially submerged RBCs are used for
carbonaceous BOD removal, combined carbon oxidation and nitrification, and nitrification of
secondary effluents. Completely submerged RBCs are used for de-nitrification.
Due to the operational limitation of the number of discs on one shaft, the process may consist of a
number of stages in series. The number of stages may vary from 2 to 6, depending on the
characteristics of the waste and the effluent characteristics required. Carbonaceous substrate is
removed in the initial stage of RBC. Carbon conversion may be completed in the first stage of a
series of modules, with nitrification being completed after the 5th stage. The hydraulic loading
rates are 0.04 to 0.06m3/day/m2 and organic loading rates 0.05 to 0.06 kg BOD5/m2/day based on
the disc area. RBCs are used for BOD and suspended solids removal, combined carbon oxidation

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and nitrification, and nitrification of secondary effluents. RBCs are more reliable than other fixed-
film processes because of large amount of biological mass present (low operating F/M)

BIO-FILTER

• Bio-filter is a modernized trickling filter which is designed as a roughening tower for BOD
/ COD reduction from the influent.
• Bio-filter is used as a first stage aerobic biological Treatment where multi stage treatment
is required.
• A Bio-filter can be used where a multi stage biological treatment process is required to
break the complex organics.
• A Bio-filter can be used where the system is required to take care of shock loads in terms
of both hydraulic and organic disturbances.
• A Bio-filter system can reduce upto 60 – 80% BOD easily when two towers are equipped
in series
• It is a relatively shallow filter, generally 1.2 to 1.5m in depth, which utilizes "recirculation"
of a portion of filter effluent to the primary settling tank for a second passage through the
filter.

APPLICATIONS

• Municipal Sewage
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Distillery
• Paper Mill, Paint
• Food Processing
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Brewery

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BIO-FILL MEDIA

• Synthetic media in a bio tower system results in a greater surface area available for
biological growth per cubic mtr. of Bio-filter volume.
• Because of the less weight of synthetic media, Bio-filters can be built upto 6 mtrs. This
results in the ability to handle greater loads.

ADVANTAGES

• Attached growth systems can take more shock loads in terms of hydraulic and organic
disturbances as compared to suspended growth systems.
• High purification rates. Trouble free operations even under difficult conditions.Semi
skilled operation, very less maintenance requirement and thus low operation and
maintenance costs.
• Void ratio is more than 95% and hence media height can be up to 7-8mtrs.
• Low sludge production about 0.15-0.2kg/kgBOD reduced (ASP-0.3-0.4kg/kgBOD; EA-
0.25-0.3kg/kgBOD)
• Lower residual suspended solids concentration in treated wastewater is observed.
• A Bio-filter serves as a cost effective combination with other treatment methods.
• Less foot print area required compared to conventional system.
• Improved plastic media design such as the cross flow media have significantly reduced
Bio-filter size & cost and enhanced their efficiencies.
• No need for Mechanical or Diffused Aeration. This works on Natural Draft.

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STABILIZATION PONDS

A stabilization pond is an open , flow-through earthen basin of controlled shape specifically

designed and constructed to treat sewage and biodegradable industrial wastes. The term oxidation
pond often used, is synonymous. It is a relatively low-cost treatment system which has been
widely used , particularly in rural areas. These ponds may be considered to be completely mixed
biological reactors without solids return.The mixing is usually provided by natural process(such
as wind,heat,fermentation),but may be augmented by mechanical or diffused aeration.

Stabilization period provide longer detention periods extending from a few to several days when
the putrescible organic matter in the wastes gets stabilized by the action of natural forces.

Advantages of stabilization pond.

• Lower initial cost than required for a mechanical plant.

• Lower operating costs.
• Regulation of effluent discharge possible,thus providing control of pollution during critical
times of the year.
• Treatment system is not significantly influenced by a leaky sewage system bringing storm
water along with sewage.

Disadvantages.

• Requires extensive land area, hence the method can be used only in rural areas where land
cost are less.
• Assimilative capacity of certain industrial wastes is poor.
• These are potential odour problems.
• If used in urban areas, expansion of town and new developments may encroach on the
lagoon site.
• Effluent quantity standards of 30 mg/L
• for suspended solids are not met.

Classification of stabilization ponds

It is classified according to the nature of biological activity that is taking place as:

➢ Aerobic
➢ Anaerobic
➢ Facultative(aerobic-anaerobic).

Aerobic ponds.

In this pond the oxygen is supplied by natural surface aeration and by algal photosynthesis. The
pond is kept shallow (0.5-1.2m) so that it functions aerobically throughout the depth. For the

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treatment of domestic waste, depth is taken between 1-1.2m The length to width ratio of the pond
depends on the geometry of the land but should be maximized to approach but not to exceed 3:1.

The daily flow of sewage containing organic material provides necessary food to the aerobic
population which stabilizes the putrescible matter by oxidizing it to form nitrites and co2.

The algal population uses these products for their growth to produce more algal cells and, during
day light, oxygen which is again used by the aerobic population to decompose the original waste.
The action taking place in these ponds is known as “BACTERIAL-ALGAL-SYMBIOSIS”. Thus
the symbiotic relation between bacteria and algae leads to the stabilization of the incoming wastes.

FACULTATIVE PONDS

A facultative pond combines the features of the aerobic and anaerobic ponds. Constructed of
intermediate depth (1.0 to 1.5m), a facultative pond consist of 3 zones:

a) Aerobic zone at top

b) Anaerobic zone at bottom
c) Facultative zone

A facultative zone is situated between the aerobic and anaerobic zone where decomposition of
incoming organic wastes and products of anaerobic decomposition are done by facultative bacteria.

The top aerobic layer acts as a good check against odour evolution from the pond. The pond depth
inhibits mixing, hence organic solids which settle will remain on the bottom and will be subjected
to anaerobic decomposition. The action in the aerobic zone is similar to the one found in the aerobic
ponds , giving rise to bacterial-algal-symbiosis.

The treatment effected by this pond is comparable to that of conventional secondary treatment
process. Hence the facultative pond is the best suited and most commonly used for treatment of
sewage.

Mechanism of purification

In a facultative pond, the influent organic matter is stabilized by methane fermentation in the
bottom layers and partly by bacterial oxidation in top layers. In the liquid above the bottom sludge
layer , there is facultative zone, in which facultative bacteria oxidize the incoming organics as well
as the products of anaerobic decomposition of the bottom anaerobic zone When the sewage enters
the pond, the suspended organic matter settle to the bottom of the pond. In the absence of D.O at
the pond bottom , the settle sludge undergoes anaerobic fermentation with the liberation of
methane. In the liquid layers of the pond , algae begins to grow under favourable condition . The
algae utilizes the CO2 in sewage for photosynthesis during day light hours, liberating O2 which
maintains aerobic conditions in upper layers of pond . The aerobic conditions promote the
oxidation of organic waste matter by aerobic bacteria.

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Thus it is seen that there is an interdependence between algae and bacteria with algae supplying
oxygen required by the bacteria and bacteria and bacteria making available the CO2 required by
algae.This type of association between organism is referred as symbiosis ,a relationship where 2
or more species live together for mutual benefits .

ANAEROBIC PONDS
In anaerobic pond, the entire depth is in anaerobic condition except an extremely shallow top layer.
The anaerobic micro-organisms do not require the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water in
order to function. Their requirement is met from the oxygen chemically contained in the organic
materials.
The anaerobic decomposition takes place in two interrelated steps:
Step 1: decomposition of dissolved organic waste, by acid producing bacteria, to organic acids
(such as acetic, propionic and butyric acid)
Step 2: further decomposition of these acids to the end products of methane, CO2 and water, by
the methane- producing-bacteria

CO2 AND H2O

ORGANIC ACID-PRODUCING
WASTES BACTERIA BACTERIAL
CELLS

CO2 ,H2O AND CH4

METHANE-PRODUCING
BACTERIA BACTERIAL
CELLS

The process involves in emission of partial odours and effluent will be partially purified. The
obnoxious odours are the results of the reduction of sulphate compounds to hudrogen sulphide
(H2S) by the acid producing bacteria.
Anaerobic pond requires much less surface area than the aerobic pond. However, the pond can be
as deep as practical. Pond depths usually range from 2.5 m to 5m. The relative greater depth of
anaerobic lagoon allows for improved heat retention.

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SLUDGE

Sludge from municipalities (often called sewage sludge) is a byproduct of wastewater

treatment. It is normally a mix of organic matter from human waste, food waste
particles, microorganisms, trace chemicals and inorganic solids from products and
medicine we use, together with water bound to these materials .

RAW SLUDGE

• Deposited in a primary sedimentation tank.

• Odorous and contains highly putrescible matter
• Very objectionable.
• Moisture content 95% .

SECONDARY SLUDGE

• Deposited in a secondary clarifier.

• contains putrescible matter, but less objectionable compared to raw sludge.
• Moisture content 96% - 98% (trickling filter) and 98% -99% (activated sludge plant)

Sludge treatment:

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Figure : Flowchart of Sludge Treatment

SLUDGE THICKENING OR CONCENTRATION

Thickening is a procedure used to increase the solids content of sludge by removing a portion of
liquid fraction.

Sludge thickening is commonly achieved by the following three methods :

❖ Gravity thickening.
❖ Air flotation.
❖ Centrifugation.

1. Gravity thickening : It is the most common practice for the concentration of sludges.

➢ It is the simplest and the least expensive.

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➢ This is adopted for primary sludge or combined primary and activated sludge but is not
successful in dealing with activated sludge independently.
➢ Gravity thickening of combined sludge is not effective when the activated sludge exceeds
40% of the total sludge weight and other methods of thickening of activated sludge have
to be considered.
➢ The tank resembles a circular clarifier except that the depth/diameter ratio is greater and
the hoppered bottom has a steeper slope.
➢ Dilute sludge is fed to a center feed well, the feed sludge is allowed to settle and compact
and the thickened sludge is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank.
➢ A bridge fastened to the wall supports a scraper arm mounted on a pipe shaft equipped
with a power lift device thereby opening up channels for water to escape and promoting
densification.
➢ Also, the slow motion of the scraper dislodges gas bubbles, prevents bridging of solids
and moves the sludge towards a central well for withdrawal.
➢ The continuous supernatant flow that results is returned to the primary settling tank.
➢ Feed is provided continuously while the under flow may be extracted intermittently for
further processing.

2. Floatation thickening :

➢ Air floatation units employ floatation of sludge by air under pressure or vacuum.
➢ Floatation of sludge by air under pressure is known as dissolved air floatation or pressure
type floatation.
➢ Floatation thickeners offer significant advantages in thickening light sludge such as waste
activated sludge which have a density very close to that of water and are thus readily
buoyed to the surface.

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➢ In the dissolved air floatation unit, a portion of subnatant is pressured from 3 to 5 kg per
cubic cm and then saturated with air in the pressure tank or air dissolution tank.
➢ The effluent from the pressure tank is mixed with influent sludge immediately before it is
released into the floatation tank.
➢ Excess dissolved air then rises up in the form of minute bubbles at atmospheric pressure
attaching themselves to particles which form the sludge blanket.
➢ Dissolved air flotation (DAF) provides thickening of sludges by encouraging the solids to
float to the surface, rather than allowing them to sink to the tank base as with gravity
thickening, where they can be removed by a skimmer. DAF is applied when the sludge
solids are neutrally buoyant (i.e. neither sink nor float) and so cannot be readily removed
by conventional settling.
➢ Thickened blanket is skimmed off from the surface, while the unrecycled subnatant is
returned to the plant.

Centrifugal thickening:

➢ Centrifuges are used both to thicken and to dewater sludge. Their application in
thickening is normally limited to waste activated sludge.
➢ Thickening by centrifugation involves the settling of sludge particles under the influence
of centrifugal forces.
➢ Thickening by centrifugation is resorted to only when the space limitation or sludge
characteristics will not permit the adoption of the other two methods mentioned above.
➢ This method involves high maintenance and power costs.

Sludge stabilization
Sludge stabilization is the process in which the biodegradable organic matter is converted to non-
biodegradable (or inert) matter.

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Several methods are used for dewatering as follows:

A) Natural dewatering
B) Mechanical dewatering

The commonly used methods of or sludgestabilization are:

(1) alkaline stabilization, usually withl ime

(2) anaerobicdigestion (will be covered in this course)

(3) Aerobic digestion
(4) Composting

Aerobic Digestion

The function of aerobic digestion is to stabilize waste sludge by long term aeration, thereby
reducing the BOD and destroying volatile solids

Aerobic sludge digestion is one process that may be used to reduce both the organic content and
the volume of the sludge.Under aerobic conditions, a large portion of the organic matter in sludge
may be oxidized biologically by microorganisms to carbon dioxide and water.The process results
in approximately 50% reduction in solids content. Aerobic sludge digestion facilities may be
designed for batch or continuous flow operations

In batch operations, sludge is added to a reaction tank while the contents are continuously aerated.
Once the tank is filled, the sludges are aerated for two to three weeks, depending on the types of
sludge. After aeration is discontinued, the solids and liquids are separated. Solids at
concentrations of 2–45 are removed, and the clarified liquid supernatant is decanted and recycled
to the wastewater treatment plant.

In a continuous flow system, an aeration tank is utilized, followed by a settling tank. In general
aerobic digesters are similar to CONVENTIONAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE TANKS in that they
are not covered or insulated.

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Figure : Aerobic Sludge Digestion

Advantages

The advantages of using aerobic digestion, as compared to the use of anaerobic digestion include:

1. simplicity of operation and maintenance;

2. lower capital costs;
3. lower levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and phosphorus in the supernatant;
4. fewer effects from upsets such as the presence of toxic interferences or changes
in loading and pH ;
5. less odor;
6. nonexplosive;
7. greater reduction in grease and hexane solubles;
8. greater sludge fertilizer value;
9. shorter retention periods; and
10. an effective alternative for small wastewater treatment plants.

Disadvantages include:

1. higher operating costs, especially energy costs;

2. highly sensitive to ambient temperature (operation at temperatures below 59°F [15°C])
may require excessive retention times to achieve stabilization; if heating is required,
aerobic digestion may not be cost-effective);
3. no useful byproduct such as methane gas that is produced in anaerobic digestion;
4. variability in the ability to dewater to reduce sludge volume;
5. less reduction in volatile solids; and
6. unfavorable economics for larger wastewater treatment plants.

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Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is considered as a biological process that degrades organic substances
by the actions of microbial communities in the absence of oxygen.

STAGES IN SLUDGE DIGESTION PROCESS

1. Acid fermentation/Acid production

2. Acid regression
3. Alkaline fermentation

Stage 1: Acid fermentation/Acid production

• Anaerobic and facultative bacteria (acid formers) acts.

• Acid formers stabilize the organic solids through hydrolysis.
• Soluble products fermented to volatile acids and organic alcohols of low molecular
weight like Propionic acid, acetic acid etc
• Evolution of CH4 , CO2 and H2S gases.
• Lowers pH value to less than 6
• highly acidic in nature.
• Evolution of highly putrescible odours.
• Continues for 15 days.

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Stage 2: Acid regression

• Volatile organic acids and nitrogenous compounds of the first stage acted upon by
bacteria.
• Forms acid carbonates and ammonia compounds.
• Evolution of H2S and CO2 gases in small amount.
• Offensive odour
• pH value rises to 6.8
• Entraps of gases of decomposition and forms scum layer.
• Continues for 3 months.
• BOD remains high.

Stage 3 : Alkaline fermentation

• Proteins and organic acids attacked and broken up by anaerobic bacteria (methane
formers).
• Forms ammonia, organic acids and gases.
• Liquid separates out from solids and the digestive sludge (or ripened sludge) is formed.
• Digestive sludge collected at the bottom of digestion tank.
• Alkaline in nature
• pH value rises little above 7.
• Large amount of CH4 and small amount of CO2 and Nitrogen gases are evolved.
• Continues for 1 month.
• BOD rapidly falls down.

Methanogenesis

The ultimate phase during which two types of methanogenes bacteria take over. This step is carried
out by a group of bacteria called methanogens. Two groups are involved in methane production.
One group split acetic acid into methane and carbon dioxide. The second group, termed hydrogen-
utilising methanogens, use hydrogen as the electron donor and carbon dioxide as an electron
acceptor to produce methane.

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Sludge dewatering:
Sludge Dewatering is a physical unit operation used to reduce the moisture content of the sludge
and thus to increase the solids concentration.
Need for sludge dewatering:
1. Cost of trucking sludge to ultimate disposal site is reduced because of reduced sludge volume
consequent to dewatering.
2. Ease in handling dewatered sludge.
3. Increase in calorific value of sludge by removal of moisture, prior to incineration.
4. Rendering the sludge totally odourless and non-putrescible.
5. Sludge dewatering is commonly required prior to land filling to reduce leachate production at
landfill site.

Various methods:
1. Sludge drying beds.
2. Mechanical methods.
3. Vacuum filters.

1. Sludge drying beds.

This method of dewatering and drying the sludge is especially suitable for those locations where
temperature is higher,similar to the one prevail.3ing in our country

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Figure : Sludge drying beds

Sludge drying beds are open beds of land, 45 to 60 cm deep, and consisting of about 30 to 45 cm
thick graded layers of gravel or crushed stone varying size from 15 cm at bottom to 1.25 cm at top,
overlain by10 to 15cm thick coarse sand layer. Under-drain pipes are laid below the gravel layer
in valleys as shown in the figure below at a longitudinal slope of about 1 in 100. under drains are
made of vitrified clay pipes or tiles

The beds are surrounded by brick walls rising about 1m above the sand surface The sewage sludge
from the digestion tank is brought and spread over the top of the drying beds to a depth of about
20 to 30 cm The portion of the moisture , drains through the bed, while most of it is evaporated to
the atmosphere.

Sludge should never be applied to a bed until the preceding dose has been removed. Hence several
drying beds will generally be required, with their number increasing with an increase in the number
of days for which the sludge is kept on the beds.

Normally sludge is removed from the beds after a period of about 7 to 10 days as within this period,
about 30% of the moisture goes away and the surface of the sludge gets cracked This method of
dewatering and drying the sludge is specially suitable for those locations where temperature is
higher, as prevailing in our country.

It usually takes about 2 weeks to two months, for drying the sludge, depending on the weather
and condition of the bed.

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