2004 Biological

Wastewater Treatment
Operators School
Advanced Treatment Systems
May 13, 2004

Dean Pond, Black & Veatch

Advanced Treatment Systems

What are the forms of

nitrogen found in
wastewater?
What are the forms of nitrogen
found in wastewater?
 TKN = 40% Organic + 60% Free Ammonia
Typical concentrations:
Ammonia-N = 10-50 mg/L
Organic N = 10 – 35 mg/L
 No nitrites or nitrates
 Forms of nitrogen:
Organic N
TKN
Ammonia Total
Nitrite N
Nitrate
Advanced Treatment Systems

Why is it necessary to
treat the forms of
nitrogen?
Why is it necessary to treat
the forms of nitrogen?

 Improve receiving stream quality

 Increase chlorination efficiency
 Minimize pH changes in plant
 Increase suitability for reuse
 Prevent NH4 toxicity
 Protect groundwater from nitrate
contamination
Advanced Treatment Systems

What are the effects of

N and P in receiving
waters?
What are the effects of N and P
in receiving waters?

 Increases aquatic growth (algae)

 Increases DO depletion
 Causes NH4 toxicity
 Causes pH changes
Advanced Treatment Systems

Why is it sometimes
necessary to remove P
from municipal
wastewater treatment
plants?
Why is it sometimes necessary to
remove P from municipal WWTPs?

 Reduce phosphorus, which is a key

limiting nutrient in the environment
 Improve receiving water quality by:
• Reducing aquatic plant growth and
DO depletion
• Preventing aquatic organism kill
 Reduce taste and odor problems in
downstream drinking water supplies
Advanced Treatment Systems

How is P removed by
conventional secondary
(biological) wastewater
treatment plants?
How is P removed by conventional
secondary (biological) WWTPs?

 Biological assimilation
BUG = C60H86O23N12P
 0.03 lb P/lb of bug mass
 GROW BUGS, WASTE BUGS =
REMOVE P
Advanced Treatment Systems

Where in the treatment

plant process flow could
chemical precipitants be
added?
Where in the treatment plant flow could
chemical precipitants be added?

 At pretreatment
 Before primary clarifiers
 After aeration basins
 At final clarifiers
 Ahead of effluent filters
 Considerations:
• Effective mixing
• Flexibility
• Sludge production
Advanced Treatment Systems

How is N removed or
altered by conventional
secondary (biological)
treatment?
How is N removed or altered by
secondary (biological) treatment?

 Biological assimilation
BUG = C60H86O23N12P
 0.13 lb N/lb of bug mass
 Biological conversion by nitrification
and denitrification
Nitrification

 NH4+  Nitrosomonas  NO2-

 NO2-  Nitrobacter  NO3-
 Notes:
• Aerobic process
• Control by SRT (4 + days)
• Uses oxygen  1 mg of NH4+ uses 4.6 mg O2
• Depletes alkalinity 
1 mg NH4+ consumes 7.14 mg alkalinity
• Low oxygen and temperature =
difficult to operate
Denitrification

 NO3-  denitrifiers (facultative bacteria) 

N2 gas + CO2 gas
 Notes:
• Anoxic process
• Control by volume and oxic MLSS recycle to
anoxic zone
• N used as O2 source = 1 mg NO3- yields 2.85 mg O2
equivalent
• Adds alkalinity  1 mg NO3- restores 3.57 mg
alkalinity
• High BOD and NO3- load and low temperature =
difficult to operate
Advanced Treatment Systems

What are typical flow

application rates in
tertiary filters?
What are typical flow application rates
in tertiary filters?

 Automatic backwash filters

(1-2 ft media depth) = 2 to 4 gpm/sf
 Deep bed filters
(4-6 ft media depth) = 4 to 8 gpm/sf
Advanced Treatment Systems

What are typical

backwash rates for a
tertiary filter (in gpm/sf)?
What are typical backwash rates for a
tertiary filter (in gpm/sf)?

 Automatic backwash filters

• 20 to 25 gpm/sf
• 5 to 10% of throughput
 Deep bed filters
• 15 to 20 gpm/sf
• 3 to 5% of throughput
Advanced Treatment Systems

Define advanced
treatment…
Define advanced treatment …

 Treatment that improves or enhances

secondary treatment processes
 Further removal of organics, nutrients
and dissolved solids
Advanced Treatment Systems

Explain circumstances
under which advanced
treatment may be
necessary…
Explain circumstances under which
advanced treatment may be necessary…

 Limited assimilative capacity of stream

 Toxicity reduction / elimination
 Nutrient control
 Closed systems
 Water reuse
Advanced Treatment Systems
Identify and explain the objectives of the
following advanced treatment systems:

• Further removal of organics

• Further removal of suspended solids
• Nutrient removal (N and P)
• Removal of dissolved solids
Identify and explain the objectives of the
following advanced treatment systems:

 Further removal of organics

• Reduce effluent BOD to reduce receiving stream
DO depletion
• Improve disinfection
• Reduce effluent N to improve water quality
 Further removal of suspended solids
• Removing TSS removes BOD
• Removing TSS removes N and P
(BUG = C60H86O23N12P)
• Protects stream  sediment oxygen demand
• Improves efficiency of disinfection
Identify and explain the objectives of the
following advanced treatment systems:

 Removal of nutrients (N and P)

• Reduce oxygen demand of receiving stream
• Control nutrients and algae
• Control taste and odor in downstream
drinking water
• Suitability for reuse (examples: boiler
water recycle, irrigation – N&P control of
runoff, groundwater recharge)
Identify and explain the objectives of the
following advanced treatment systems:

 Removal of dissolved solids

• Removal of specific pollutant –
zinc, chromium, lead
• Pretreatment of industrial waste
• Control effluent toxicity
• Make suitable for reuse
Advanced wastewater treatment…
Describe the purpose or procedure and mechanism
by which it is done for each of the following:

 Activated carbon  Nitrification

adsorption  Denitrification
 Chemical coagulation  Ammonia striping
 Flocculation  Alum or ion
 Phosphorus removal precipitation
 Nitrogen removal  Lime precipitation
 Effluent Filtration  Reverse osmosis (RO)
 Polishing lagoons  Electrodialysis
Activated Carbon Adsorption

 Purpose
• Tertiary treatment
• Removal of low concentration organic
compounds
 Application:
Influent Primary Trt Biological Trt 
Filtration Carbon Disinfection
• Many variations
 Continued …

Activated Carbon Adsorption

 Carbon Regeneration
• 5 to 10% loss
• Less capacity than new carbon
• Hot air @ 350oF
• Chemicals (sodium hydroxide)
• Fire / Explosion
• Carbon usually replaced after 5 regenerations
 Mechanism:
• Active sites “Activated Carbon”
• Molecular bonding
• Particles adhere to surface
Chemical Coagulation

 Purpose
• Enhanced removal of organics and fine
particles
• Addition of lime, alum, iron, polymer to change
ionic charge
 Application
• Chemical feed with rapid mix
• Ahead of final clarifiers
• Ahead of filtration
 Continued …

Chemical Coagulation

Lime+ Heavy metals Alum+ SS removal

SS removal Aluminum sulfate P removal
P removal
Polymer + - SS control Iron+ SS removal
Ferric chloride
Ferric sulfate
P removal
Mechanism: Ferrous sulfate
• Destabilization by ionic charge neutralization
• Reduce charge that keeps small particles apart
_ _ _ + _ _
+ + + _
_ _ _ + + +
+ +
+ _ _ + + +_
+ _ _
+ + + +++ + _ + _
_ + _ _ _ +
_ + + _ + + _ _ _ ++ _ _ _ _
+ + +
+ + +
Flocculation

 Purpose
• Produce larger, more dense floc particles that
will settle or filter easily
 Application
• Gentle mixing after rapid mix (coagulation)
• Mixing – Mechanical or Aeration

Infl Q Q
Gentle
Mix /
Rapid
Flocculation
Mix /
Coagulation Sludge
 Continued …

Flocculation

 Mechanism
• Coagulated particles strung together into
larger floc particles (snow flake floc)

+ + + + + + +
+
+ + + +++ + +
+
+ + + ++ + + + + + ++
+ + ++ + + +++ + +
+
+ + + +
+ + +
Phosphorus Removal

 Purpose
• Reduce effluent P
• Biological or chemical method
• Reduce nutrient load on stream
• Reduce algae growth
• Reduce oxygen depletion
 Application / Mechanism
• Biological
• Chemical
 Continued …

Phosphorus Removal

 Biological

Q Anaerobic Aerobic Final Effl

Zone Zone Clarifier

P Release P Luxury Uptake

RAS WAS
P Removal
 Continued …

Phosphorus Removal

 Chemical
Primary Aerobic Final Effl
Q Clarifier Zone Clarifier

Chemical Chemical
Coagulant Coagulant

RAS WAS

P Removal
Nitrogen Removal

 Purpose
• Reduce effluent N (ammonia and nitrates)
• Biological or chemical
• Reduce nutrient load on stream
• Reduce algae growth
• Reduce oxygen depletion
 Application / Mechanism
1. Advanced Activated Sludge Processes
 Nitrification (remove ammonia)
NH4  NO2  NO3
 Continued …

Nitrogen Removal
 Denitrification (remove nitrate)
NO3  NO2  NO, N2O or N2 gas
2. Deep Bed Filtration
 Anaerobic fixed film bacteria (denitrify)
Q

Media 6-8’
Methanol
(carbon) Q

3. Air Stripping
 Removes ammonia
 Elevated pH 10.8 to 11.5 NH4 as gas
Effluent Filtration

 Purpose
• Remove SS (usually after FC)
• Reduce BOD and insoluble P
 Application
1. Deep Bed 2. Traveling Bridge
 4-6’ sand and gravel  1-2’ sand and anthracite
 Large cells 10’ x 30’  Small cells 1’ x 14’
 Similar to WTP  Contiuous backwash
(batch backwash)  hL = 2 - 3 ft
 hL = 4 - 6 ft
 $$$
 Continued …

Effluent Filtration

 Loading Rate
• Backwash
• 2 – 4 gpm/sf
• Frequency depends on loading
• 20 – 25 gpm/sf
• 5 – 15% of throughput
• Must clean beds
• Air scour
 Mechanism
• Filtration by granular media
Polishing Lagoons

 Purpose
• To further treat or polish the effluent
• After final clarifier
• Facultative pond (aerobic and anaerobic)
 Application
• Typical volume = 1 day average flow
i.e., 1 mgd plant = 1 mgd lagoon
24 hour detention time
• Surface aerators
 Continued …

Polishing Lagoons
Sunlight
Surface
Aerator
Algae M
Settling
Aerobic
Anaerobic

 Sunlight  Photosynthesis  Algae + Organics &

Nutrients
 Organic Matter  Anaerobic Decomposition methane
gas

 Mechanism
Algae and bacteria grow in pond consuming organics
and nutrients in FC effluent. Algae settles and
degrades by anaerobic process.
Nitrification

 Purpose
• Reduce ammonia on plant effluent
• High ammonia concentrations are toxic to
streams
• Quickest impact on DO versus nitrates
 Application
• SRT > 3 days in activated sludge process
• Grow Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter
• NH4  NO2 NO3
 Mechanism
Biological conversion of ammonia to nitrate
Denitrification

 Purpose
• Reduce nitrate on plant effluent
• Usually in combination with nitrification to reduce
Total N to the stream
 Application
1. Activated Sludge Process
Q FC
Anx Oxic

Oxic Recycle
RAS
2. Deep Bed
Filters WAS

 Mechanism
Biological conversion of nitrate to N2 gas
Ammonia Stripping

 Purpose
• Reduce ammonia either before or after
biological treatment
• Not commonly used in the US
 Application / Mechanism
• Raise pH  10.8 to 11.5, usually by adding
lime
• Move equilibrium point to ammonia gas @
250C and pH 11
• NH4 gas = 98%
 Continued …

Ammonia Stripping

• Break wastewater into droplets and strip off

ammonia gas with air
• Freefall through tower that circulates a lot of
air to remove ammonia to atmosphere

NH4
Lime Air
Q
Floc NH4
Precip. Stripper

Lime Sludge
Air
Q
Alum or Iron Precipitation
 Purpose
• To remove orthophosphate
 Application
• As a backup to Bio-P process
• As chemical P removal
• As chemical process
 Mechanism
• Al+ or Fe+ + PO4  Aluminum or Iron Phosphate
Al+ or Fe+
Q Filtration
Q
Optional
Rapid Precipitate
Mix
RAS WAS + Precipitate
Lime Precipitation

 Purpose
• P removal before primary clarifier or following
biological treatment
 Application
• As a backup to Bio-P process
• As chemical P removal
• As chemical process
High pH can be a problem in effluent or in biological
treatment
 Mechanism
• Chemical conversion of phosphorus to calcium
phosphate is in pH range of 9.5 to 11.0
Reverse Osmosis (RO)

 Purpose
• High quality removal of various salts – calcium,
sodium, magnesium
 Application
• Water reuse
• AWT
 Mechanism
• Chemical separation / filtration across a semi-
permeable membrane
• High pressure
• Tertiary process
Used in Gulf War to treat sea water sodium removal
Electrodialysis
 Purpose
• Removal of ionic inorganic compounds
 Application
• AWT
• Medical
• WTP
• Clinical
 Mechanism
• Apply electrical current between two electrodes
• Water passes through semi-permeable membranes
(ion-selective)
• Alternate spacing of cation and anion permeable
membranes
• Cells of concentrated and diluted salts are formed
 Electrodialysis
 Purpose  Mechanism
• Removal of ionic • Apply electrical current between
inorganic compounds two electrodes
• Water passes through semi-
 Application permeable membranes (ion-
• AWT selective)
• Medical • Alternate spacing of cation and
anion permeable membranes
• WTP • Cells of concentrated and
• Clinical
_ diluted salts are formed
+ Sludge – concentrated salt waste
H20 stream as process reject water
Cl- H+ Problems – plugging, fowling of
+ _ membranes, MUST pretreat
OH- Na+ activated carbon, multi-media
filtration
Bipolar Membranes
Advanced wastewater treatment…
What would be the effect on sludge production for
each of the following advanced treatment processes?

 Activated carbon  Nitrification

adsorption  Denitrification
 Chemical coagulation  Ammonia striping
 Flocculation  Alum or ion
 Phosphorus removal precipitation
 Nitrogen removal  Lime precipitation
 Effluent Filtration  Reverse osmosis (RO)
 Polishing lagoons  Electrodialysis
 What would be the effect on sludge production for
each of the advanced treatment processes?

 TANSTAAFL (tanstaffull)
• “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”
 REMOVE MORE STUFF = GET MORE SLUDGE
 More BOD & TSS Removal  MORE SLUDGE
 Add chemicals  MORE SLUDGE
 N & P Removal  MORE SLUDGE
 Some processes produce more sludge than others:
• Electro/mechanical – some sludge
• Biological – more sludge
• Chemical – MOST sludge