Oxygen Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Systems

First published in 1978: The purpose of this two-volume series is to present a consolidated and comprehensive reference on oxygen-activated sludge technology.

Activated sludge is the most widely used biological wastewater treatment process in the world, both for domestic and industrial purposes. This book reviews the major theoretical concepts and practical operational factors, and describes the complexities inherent in the process, which depends on a dense microbial population mixed in wastewater under specific aerobic conditions. It is an ideal reference source for scientists, and a useful troubleshooting guide for practicing engineers and plant operators.

In the past, industrial wastewater treatment primarily focused on the removal of BOD and suspended solids. In recent years, however, the focus has changed to aquatic toxicity, priority pollutants, and volatile organics. This required changes in how we design and operate biological treatment plants. Many existing plants must be retrofitted. New approaches to meet new requirements are discussed in detail. The authors, with a combined experience of sixty years, have presented case studies for a wide variety of industrial wastewaters including pulp and paper, food processing, chemical and pharmaceuticals, and textile wastewaters. Data interpretation and process design are developed through the use of seventeen examples. Procedures for the laboratory and pilot plant generation of process design data are presented. Emphasis is placed on meeting the many new regulations governing industrial wastewater discharges.