Activated sludge
A seasoned technology
The activated sludge process was invented around 1914 and is today still the most commonly used biological wastewater treatment process. This widespread use is due to the fact that activated sludge can be a rather easy process to implement and one that can attain high treatment efficiency. That is to say, if it works! Activated sludge is susceptible to process disturbances making it a very problematic technology for many of its users. Problems arise most when the wastewater to be treated varies significantly in composition and/or flow.
Even the sun has its spots
A problem that often frustrates the performance of activated sludge is bulking sludge due to the growth of filamentous bacteria. Sludge bulking can often be solved by careful process modifications. However, different filamentous bacteria such as Microthrix, Sphaerotilus, Nostocoida, Thiothrix or ”Type 021N” and others cause bulking for very different reasons. Many filamentous species have not even been given a scientific name yet. Consequently, in order to make the right kind of process modification, knowledge to identify them and much experience with the process ecology are required. The potential for instability with activated sludge is an acute problem when strict demands on treatment performance are in place .
New tricks from an old dog
AnoxKaldnes have extensive fundamental knowledge and practical experience with activated sludge technology and have even developed several unique refinements to this seasoned process. In our product line we can offer: