Handbook Biological Wastewater Treatment - Design of Activated Sludge Systems

Introduction

The organic compounds present in waste water are of particular interest in sanitary engineering. A great variety of micro-organisms - which may be present in the waste water or in the receiving water body - will interact with organic compounds, using these either as an energy source or as a material source for synthesis of new cellular material. The utilisation of organic material by micro-organisms is called metabolism. Metabolism consists of two parts:

1. The biochemical reactions that produce energy, resulting in the dissimilation of the organic compounds and the production of stable end products, a process called catabolism
2. The synthesis of new cellular matter is called anabolism.

In order to be able to describe the metabolic processes that occur in the activated sludge process, it is necessary to:

• Determine a suitable quantitative parameter that is able to adequately describe the concentration of organic compounds present in waste water
• Establish the different catabolic- and anabolic processes that may occur

Contents of this section

Measurement of organic material Decription of COD test Description of BOD test Description of TOC test Comparison of parameters for measurement of organic material Read more....

Bacterial metabolism Aerobic (oxidative) metabolism Anoxic metabolism Anaerobic metabolism Read more....

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