5/18/2025

Activated Sludge Process

• Invented in 1914 by Ardern and Lockett. They aerated

a batch of sewage, allowing the generated sludge to
settle, decanting the supernatant, adding a fresh batch of
sewage.
• During aeration sewage is mixed with a large mass of
previously grown organisms.
• The solids formed are flocculent and can be removed
from the liquid by settling.
• Separate control is exercised over the solid and liquid phases, so
that the solids retention time in the process is much longer than
the hydraulic retention time.

Microorganisms
Microorganisms + separated from
Organic Matter + O2 water
Wastewater with organic
matter S0 = CO2 + New
microorganisms MLSS
Q
S

Microorganism combined
together and form flocs

Qr Xr
Qw Xr

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How is this accomplished?

Graph Showing Growth

Phases in a Biological System
X
Growth Rate of Organisms

Abundance of Food

When Food Supply is Introduced into a

Biological Treatment System that is in
Start-up

Few Organisms

X Time

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Lag Graph Showing Growth

Growth
Growth Rate of Organisms Phases in a Biological System

Food Begins to be Consumed

Organisms Begin to Acclimate

Producing Needed Enzymes

Organism Population Begins to Increase

Time

Lag Log
Growth Growth
Growth Rate of Organisms

Food
Rapidly
Consumed Organisms Acclimated

Organism Population
Rapidly Increases

Time

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Lag Log Declining

Growth Growth Growth
dX/dt = muX
Growth Rate of Organisms

Food

Organism Population Growth Limited by

Food Supply

Time

Lag Log Declining Endogenous

Growth Growth Growth Growth
Growth Rate of Organisms

Food

Food Supply Depleted -

Organism Growth Rate Continues
Decline

Time

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Lag Log Declining Endogenous

Growth Growth Growth Growth

Stored Food Metabolized -

Growth Rate of Organisms

Food Organisms Feed on One Another

(Producing Less Sludge)
dX/dt = kd X

Sludge Production

Time

(Q+Qr) X

Q, Xo,So,
Microorganism (Q,-Qw)
combined together Xe,S
and form flocs

X, S, V
Qr Xw

Qw Xw

Xr = Xw
X0 = 0 Xe = 0 and All Susbtrate S is soluble
Mass of X in – Mass of X out + Rate of Growth of X = Accumulation of X in Reactor

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Mass Balance

Either of These

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X0

W
W

dX
QX 0  QW X w  (Q  QW ) X e  rgV  V
dt
dS
QS 0  (Q  QW ) S  QW S  rSU V  V
dt
X0 = 0 Xe = 0 , Since these are negligible

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Next Step

In the form of Monod Kinetics

Specific
=
Growth Rate =

Rate of Bacterial Growth (rg)

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Net Bacterial Growth (r’g)

= =

Rate of Substrate Utilization (rsu)

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Rate of Substrate Utilization (rsu)

Rate of Substrate Utilization (rsu)

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Mass Balance for Biomass & Substrate

dX
QX 0  QW X w  (Q  QW ) X e  rgV  V
dt

dS
QS 0  (Q  QW ) S  QW S  rSU V  V
dt

X0 = 0 Xe = 0, Sw = Se =S
Since these are negligible

Mass Balance for Biomass & Substrate

X0 = 0 Xe = 0, Since these are negligible &

Sw = Se =S

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Process Kinetics

Where θ = the hydraulic retention time, HRT, and θc = the solids residence time,
SRT

1 𝑄𝑤 ∗ 𝑋𝑤
=
𝜃𝑐 𝑉∗𝑋

𝑉∗𝑋
𝜃𝑐 =
𝑄𝑤 ∗ 𝑋𝑤

SRT = Biomass in Reactor/Biomass Wasted per day

= (1000 (m3) * 4 (kg/ m3)) / ((100 m3/d x 4 kg/m3))
= 4000 kg / (400 kg/d)
= 10 days

Q= 500
1 𝑄 m3/d Reactor
=
𝜃 𝑉 • V = 1000 m3
• X MLSS = 4000
𝜃 = 𝑉/𝑄
mg/L = 4 kg/m3

HRT = Volume / Flow

= 1000 m3 / (500 m3/d) • Qw = 100 m3/d
= 2 days • X mlss = 4000 mg/L or
4 kg/m3

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Evaluation of Kinetic Parameters

• Known: Flow, Inlet and outlet BOD, Volume of reactor, Volume of waste
sludge/day, MLVSS in Reactor

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Volume of reactor = ?? 300 L

Sludge Wasted ??? =

SRT = Volume of Reactor x MLVSS conc. in reactor

Volume of sludge wasted/day x Conc. of waste sludge

Kd = 0.05 d-1, Y= 0.465 mg/mg

0.05

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Biological Sludge
Production- If everything organic- Soluble organic influent, no suspended organics in
influent and no inert material in influent

• QwXw = YobsQ (S0-S)- As MLVSS

• Yobs = Y/(1+kdSRT)
• Y = 0.5
• Kd = 0.06 day-1

Actual Sludge Production

S factor considers -
Non Biodegradable VSS (suspended organics) in influent
Cell Debris (Inert material (Ash) in cell- 15 %)
Autotrophic biomass
Actual SRT (Solids Retention Time) = V ( 5000 m3) X (4000 mg/L)/ Actual
Sludge Production

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Process Design Paramaters

• BOD-SS Loading = kg BOD/kg MLSS or MLVSS= F/M Ratio

How much Microorganisms we Have to keep,

if the Food is given .
• F/M = Ratio varies from 0.1-0.4, day-1

F QS 0
 Food in kg/day (Given)
M VX Microorganisms in tank

where Q  flow rate

S 0  initial BOD 5
V  volume
Conventional Activated Sludge Process F/M =
0.3-0.4 day-1

X  MLSS Extended Aeration Activated Sludge Process F/M =

0.05-0.15 day-1

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F/M Parameter
• Low F/M (low rate of wasting)- Extended Aeration- SBR, MBR, MBBR-
Generally low to medium capacity STP ie., > 50 MLD
• Larger MLSS, more costly aeration tanks
• more O2 required
• higher power costs (to supply O2)- Due to less sludge
• starved organisms
• less sludge to handle- High SRT
• Stabilized Sludge-No odor, no nuisance

• High F/M (high rate of wasting)- Conventional Activated Process- Always

Accompanied by Primary Settling Tank & Anaerobic Digestion of Sludge
(Methane production by Sludge)
• Organisms are saturated with food
• Smaller Aeration Tanks and Less Oxygen requirement
• Higher Sludge production
• Non-stabilized Sludge-odor, nuisance- need further anaerobic or aerobic
digestion.
• Generally Used for Larger plants > 50 MLD

Microbiology

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How to Make the System Active ?

• By providing sufficient oxygen, Mixing & High density of microorganisms

(Keep organisms in system).

Important:

If DO<1 mg/L Low DO bulking (Sludge Settles Slowly)

If DO> 4mg/L Pin point flocs (Breaking of sludge Flocs)
If DO> 2 mg/L Nitrification

Oxygen Requirement
QwXw = YobsQ (S0-S)- As MLVSS O2 CO2
Yobs = Y/(1+kdSRT)
Y = 0.5
Kd = 0.06 day-1
Wastewater BOD (So) New Cells X, Volume V
Y
Kd
Endogenous
Respiration
Wastewater BOD consumed = BOD utilized for oxidation (Oxygen
requirement) O2 + BOD of new cell
BOD utilized for oxidation (Oxygen requirement) O2 = Wastewater BOD
consumed - BOD of new cell
Kg O2/day = Q x (S0-S)/f – 1.42 Qw Xw COD = 1.42 mgO2/mg C5H7NO2
BODult = COD
f = BOD5/BODult BODult= 1.42 MLVSS,

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Assginments

• What is the difference between Conv. ASP and Extended Aeration

• Difference between HRT & SRT
• Biological Sludge Production and Total sludge production (including
inert component of TSS (silt)
• F/M Ratio for conventional and Extended Aeration Activated Sludge
• Oxygen Requirement in both Conventional and Extended Aeration
ASP

Return Sludge The sludge is returned to the aeration tank for maintaining desired
MLSS in Aeration Tank
(Q+Qr) X

Xo,So, Q

Microorganism
combined together
and form flocs

Qr Xw

Qw Xw
Solids in = Solids out
Qr x Xw + Xo x Q = (Q + Qr) X
Completely Mix
Qr (Xw – X) = Q x X
Varies 0.25-0.8.
𝑄𝑟 𝑋 Ext Aeration = 0.5-1.0
=
𝑄 (𝑋𝑤 − 𝑋)

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Sludge Volume Index

•
• Sludge Settleability is determined by Sludge volume Index, Volume
occupied in ml per g of MLSS in 30 min.
• The cylinder can be 1 or 2 L
• (Xs)= 106/SVI

Concentration – 1000 mg/L

Volume of Cylinder – 2 L
Weight of Sludge = 2 g
Volume occupied after 30 min = 10 %
or 100 x 2 = 200 ml
SVI = 200 ml/2g = 280 ml/g

Return
Sludge pit
Return Sludge
Pumps

Return
Sludge

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Return Sludge

• If Tank MLSS is 2000 mg/L, Xw = 10000mg/L and we have to increase it

to 5000 mg/L. Xw = 10000 mg/L. The SVI should be 100. What is new
recirculation ratio ?
• Qr/Q = 2000/10000-2000 = 0.25
• Qr/Q = 5000/10000-5000 = 1.0

Extended Aeration

•No Primary Settling Tank

•Less sludge wastage, more MLSS in tank, less food,
more recirculation. High SRT and Low F/M
•Therefore cope with BOD load fluctuations
•Less and stabilized (less organics) sludge produced

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Summary (Basic Ingredients)

• High density of microorganisms (keep organisms in system)

• Good contact between organisms and wastes (provide mixing)
• Provide high levels of oxygen (aeration)
• Favorable temperature, pH, nutrients (design and operation)
• No toxic chemicals present (control industrial inputs)

Design Parameters

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Secondary Sedimentation

• Remove MLSS from Wastewater & concentrate settled sludge

• Sludge conc. = 2-5 times of the MLSS in aeration tank, Depend on SVI
& settling characteristics.
• If MLSS in aeration tank = 2000, sludge conc. = 10000 mg/L,for SVI -
100
• If MLSS in aeration tank = 4000 mg/L, sludge conc. is 10000 mg/L (For
SVI 100)

Secondary Clarifier

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Secondary Settling Tank

Solids Loading = Q x MLSS/Surface Area

Design the Conventional ASP

Q (Discharge) m3/d 10000.00
Raw Sewage BOD (mg/L) 250.00
Raw Sewage TSS (mg/L) 400.00
MLSS (mg/L) 2500
Y 0.50
Kd 0.06
Effluent BOD = ???

Final Effluent TSS = ???

Final Effluent Inert TSS = ???
BOD after PST = Refer Primary Clarifier ppt (30% is removed) = 70% * 250 =175 mg/L

TSS after PST = Refer Primary Clarifier ppt (60% is removed) = 40% * 400 = 160 mg/L

Inert TSS after Primary Clarifier = 20 % of TSS = 20% * 160 = 32 mg/L

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• F/M FOR CONVENTIONAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS 0.3 d-1

• Volume of Activated Sludge (Aeration) Tank F/M = Q x So / V X 2333 m3

• HRT = V/Q 5.6 h OK

• Hence Volume 2333 m3

• Assume SRT 5 days

• Bio Sludge Generated (Without divided by 0.8) 660 kg/day

• Total Excess Bio Sludge (After dividing by 0.8) 825 kg/day

• Inert Sludge = Q x Inert TSS 320 kg/day

• Total Sludge 1145 kg/day

• Actual SRT = V X/Actual Sludge generated 5.09 days OK

• Oxygen Requirement

Kg O2/day = Q x (S0-S)/f – 1.42 Qw Xw

10 x (165)/0.67 – 1.42 x 660= 1524 kg/d

• Kg O2/kg BOD removed = 0.92 OK

• Assume SVI 120 ml/g

(Xw)= 106/SVI 8333 mg/L

𝑄𝑟 𝑋
• =
𝑄 (𝑋𝑤 −𝑋)

𝑄 ∗𝑋 10000 ∗ 2500
𝑄𝑟 = = = 4300 𝑚3 /𝑑
(𝑋𝑤 − 𝑋) 8333 − 2500

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Design the Extended Aeration

Q (Discharge) m3/d 10000.00
Raw Sewage BOD (mg/L) 250.00
Raw Sewage TSS (mg/L) 400.00
MLSS (mg/L) 4000
Y 0.50
Kd 0.06
Effluent BOD = 10

Final Effluent TSS = 20

Final Effluent Inert TSS = 0
BOD after PST = No primary Clarifier 250 mg/L

TSS after PST = No Primary Clarifier 400 mg/L

Inert TSS = 30 % of TSS 120 mg/L

 F/M FOR extended aeration 0.1 d-1

 Volume of Activated Sludge (Aeration) Tank 6250 m3

 HRT 15 h OK

 Hence Volume 6250 m3

 Assume SRT 11 days

 Bio Sludge Generated 774 kg/day

 Total Excess Bio Sludge 1290 kg/day

 Inert Sludge 1200 kg/day

 Total Sludge 2490 kg/day

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 Actual SRT V X/Actual Sludge generated 10 days OK

 Oxygen Requirement

Kg O2/day = Q x (S0-S)/f – 1.42 Qw Xw

10 x (240)/0.67 – 1.42 x 774= 3582-1099 kg/d =2482

 Kg O2/kg BOD removed = 1.03 OK

 Assume SVI 120 ml/g

(Xw)= 106/SVI 8333 mg/L

𝑄𝑟 𝑋
 =
𝑄 (𝑋𝑤 −𝑋)

𝑄 ∗𝑋 10000 ∗ 4000
𝑄𝑟 = = = 9200 𝑚3 /𝑑
(𝑋𝑤 − 𝑋) 8333 − 4000

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