1. Introduction to MBBR and IFAS Technologies Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR) and Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) systems represent a significant evolution in biological wastewater treatment. As regulatory agencies impose increasingly stringent limits on nutrient discharges—specifically Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP)—and as municipal and industrial facilities face limitations on available land for […]
1. INTRODUCTION In the hierarchy of unit processes within municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, solids conveyance systems often receive less design scrutiny than liquid stream biological processes. However, the mechanical transport of dewatered biosolids, screenings, and grit represents one of the most mechanically intensive and maintenance-critical operations in a treatment plant. The failure of […]
1. Introduction In the context of municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment, aeration blowers represent the single most critical active component in the biological treatment process. They serve as the “lungs” of the plant, delivering the necessary oxygen to microorganisms within activated sludge basins, membrane bioreactors (MBR), and aerobic digesters. From an energy standpoint, […]
1. Introduction Water softening is a critical unit process in both municipal water treatment and industrial process water preparation. It addresses the presence of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other polyvalent cations that constitute “hardness.” For municipal consulting engineers and utility decision-makers, the selection of water softening systems is rarely a simple procurement exercise; it is […]
Introduction In the municipal water and wastewater treatment sector, the handling of hazardous gases remains one of the most critical safety challenges facing plant operators and engineers. While alternative disinfection methods such as ultraviolet (UV) light and on-site hypochlorite generation have gained traction, the use of gaseous chlorine (Cl2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ammonia (NH3) […]
Introduction Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems represent a definitive convergence of biological wastewater treatment and advanced membrane filtration. In the landscape of municipal and industrial wastewater management, MBR technology has transitioned from a niche solution for difficult-to-treat effluents to a standard unit process for facilities requiring high-quality effluent, water reuse capabilities, or significant footprint reductions. At […]
1. INTRODUCTION The trickling filter is one of the oldest and most established biological treatment processes in municipal and industrial wastewater applications. Classified as an attached-growth (or fixed-film) process, a trickling filter operates by passing wastewater over a stationary medium—historically rock or slag, but increasingly structured plastic modules—where a biofilm establishes itself. This biomass metabolizes […]
1. Introduction to Packaged Treatment Plants in Municipal and Industrial Applications Packaged Treatment Plants (PTPs) represent a critical segment of the wastewater infrastructure market, serving as the backbone for decentralized wastewater management. Unlike large-scale, custom-designed civil works facilities that treat tens or hundreds of millions of gallons per day (MGD), packaged plants are pre-engineered, prefabricated, […]
1. Introduction The oxidation ditch is a modified activated sludge biological treatment process that utilizes long solids retention times (SRTs) to remove biodegradable organics. Oxidation ditches are typically complete mix systems, but they can be modified to approach plug flow conditions. Ideally suited for small- to medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment plants, these systems are renowned […]
1. Introduction to Thickening Equipment in Water and Wastewater Treatment In the hierarchy of unit processes within municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, sludge thickening represents a critical intermediate step between liquid treatment and solids handling. While often overshadowed by the biological treatment processes upstream or the final dewatering and disposal downstream, thickening is the […]