• Blog
  • Wastewater Testing
  • Bioaugmentation Applications
  • Useful Information
  • About Us
BIOLOGICAL WASTE TREATMENT EXPERT
Contact Us

Why is flocculant demand up in my secondary clarifiers?

1/12/2020

 
Picture
When we use the term "bugs" for our wastewater microbial poulation, we are simplifying what is actually a community of thousands of microbial genera. The organisms form functional groups that ensure complete waste treatment. An important part of this action is the formation of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). The EPS is the glue that holds cells in a biofilm or floc. EPS is composed of polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes, and DNA that form a matrix containing bacteria, particulates, and stored organic compounds. Even filamentous bacteria are needed for "best" quality floc. As long as the filmanets are functioning in their macrostructure role and inside the floc, the flilaments are beneficial. So maintaining EPS at proper composition and levels is key to separating the biomass from treated effluent even if you use clarifiers, DAF, MBR, or other solids separation system. Now for a few common reasons why secondary polyer demand can increase:

  • Filamentous bulking - bulking is where filaments bridge floc and become the dominant microbial form. If you see filaments at a 5 or 6 (Scale 0 - 6), then you should go through the identification of the filament, associated cause, and take corrective measures. This is where someone with filamentous bulking expertise can help you with the best control options.

  • Non-filamentous or Zoogleal bulking - this is a problem with the natural slime or biological polymers produced by microorganisms in the MLSS. It is much more common than people realize. Like filamentous bulking, you need to indentify the cause and work to get the excess EPS out of the system by wasting. We are now having success monitoring for the organisms responsible of non-filamentous bulking using qPCR and increasing wasting rates before bulking is observable in the MLSS.

  • Old Sludge (Low F/M) If the problem is "fines" or turbidity - you can look at "old sludge" which is very low F/M where microbes start to degrade the biopolymers holding floc together. Unless your influent organics concentration will soon increase, you should waste to maintain a proper F/M ratio. Once you are in the ideal F/M zone for your system, it should start to clear itself up.
viagra 20mg link
3/18/2020 08:26:57 pm

To make sure you can take sildenafil safely, your doctor will ask you questions about your general health. You can also tell her about the side effects, even though Viagra is a drug that is generally well tolerated by men.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Erik Rumbaugh has been involved in biological waste treatment for over 20 years. He has worked with industrial and municipal wastewater  facilities to ensure optimal performance of their treatment systems. He is a founder of Aster Bio (www.asterbio.com) specializing in biological waste treatment.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

    Click to set custom HTML

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Picturepest, marcoverch, perzonseowebbyra, Picturepest, Picturepest, dsearls, dungodung, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, aqua.mech, vastateparksstaff, hile, Aaron Volkening, amishsteve, Neil DeMaster, mklwong88, KOMUnews, Picturepest, kaibara87