BM Respirometry benefits for activated sludge process management, research and training


Courtesy of SURCIS, S.L.

A biological process controlled by non-biological measurements?
All treatment plant efficiencies are geared to the waste that they receive. The microorganisms found in the waste need food and oxygen to survive, the food is provided as soluble organic carbon in the waste stream and the oxygen is obtained through the aeration process in the treatment plant.

Once a treatment plant has been built, the factors that will affect the biomass growth rate, such as flow and aeration rate, have already been established and therefore the only changing factor that remains that can affect the process is the incoming waste stream.

It could be formulated the following question: How is it possible to evaluate or predict the effect that can cause an organic or toxic pollution in the activated sludge biological process of a WWTP by means of the lonely chemical or physical parameters measurement? We must have into account that the activated sludge of a treatment plant is an alive process, with its own breathing; therefore, a lack of information on this aspect can cause to serious confusions in the following-up and control of the activated sludge process having serious repercussion in the effluent quality and energy consumption to be applied to the aeration system.

From the arguments above exposed, it exist the logical alternative to carry out the activated sludge process protection and control by means of tests and selective measures of Respirometry based on the oxygen uptake of the genuine microorganisms contained in the own activated sludge as an important complement of the physical-chemical parameters.

What is BM Respirometry?
It is a technology in where facets of the traditional and techniques from the most advanced respirometry are gathered in one state of the art analyzer of exclusive Surcis company design. The BM system under a powerful software permits calculations of decisive parameters approached to design, control and protect the activated sludge process of a wastewater treatment plant.

BM Respirometry employ a reaction vessel that in certain mode replicate the actions that occur at a treatment plant and asses the process through fundamental measurements, such as the speed at which the process is consuming oxygen, short term biological oxygen demand, biodegradable fractions of COD, non biodegradable fraction of COD, specific Toxicity for a determined activated sludge process, Nitrification activity, and many others.

It acquires special importance the determination of the non-biodegradable COD and specific Toxicity, because many times they can explain why some processes are unable to sufficiently remove the COD entering in the plant and give a coherent explanation to the water-agencies or official control organisms.

BM Respirometers for ASP
This is a new concept of laboratory respirometry system, designed and manufactured by Surcis, S.L. in order to carry out a serial of tests and applications approached to the activated sludge process (ASP) of wastewater treatment plants.

From BM Respirometers we can highlight the following common features: Compact - Standard and advanced calculation options - Friendly but powerful software - Simplicity of setup and operation - Automatic graphic Respirograms generation - Small footprint - Very low maintenance

For the activated sludge process SURCIS has developed three Lab. Respirometers:

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