How does exactly microorganisms remove pollutants in wastewater?

[Alaaeldin55]

Hello all,

I am very confused about how does microorganisms in activated sludge process remove organic and inorganic pollutants in sewage water treatment. All books and references I have looked up in say the same thing that microorganisms feed on organic matter dissolved or suspended in wastewater and produce stable end products. There is little or no further information about the microbial mechanisms involved in this stabilization/ treatment process. My question rephrased in other words; How does the mud-like stable residue (digested sludge) is produced from biological treatment?

Thank you in advance.

 

[1503-44]

"Feed"

Once ingested by the microbes, the compounds are broken down to simpler molecular or elemental forms. As the compounds are broken down, energy is released. The microbes capture some of that energy to sustain their life and any excess energy is either chemically stored by formation of other compounds, or released to heating their surroundings.

Microbes are very clever.

https://globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/microbes/microbes.html

 

[zelgar]

First, the solids in wastewater treatment occurs during aerobic digestion of the waste by the microbes. The microbes use the oxygen and the sewage as feed and their main byproducts are CO2 and water (and more microbes). Additionally, some contaminates in the wastewater can be volatilized in the parts of the WWTP that are introducing the oxygen (air) (e.g., diffused air flotation).

Additionally, later in the system, the solids are typically placed into a digester where they end up getting into anaerobic conditions once they consume the available oxygen. Methane and other gasses (e.g., hydrogen sulfide) are typically produced during the consumption of the remaining solids (and some of the other microbes).

 

[bimr]

Many references are available if you search online:

Link 1

Link 2

 

[JedClampett]

How do you do brain surgery?
How do you split an atom?
Don't people study this for a degree at universities?

 

[IRstuff]

Studying in college is usually easy, since they tell you what text to memorize. Some people simply can't deal with the complexity of Google searches...

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[Ron]

@IRstuff....

 

[1503-44]

Some just need everything served up hot on a plate