A Focus on Aerobic Treatment in Aerated Stabilization Basins (ASBs) There are 2 major types of systems used for wastewater treatment: aerobic and anaerobic systems. Each has different uses along with pros and cons. This particular article focuses on aerobic treatment. Anaerobic treatment is the focus of a companion article written by EBS. Aerobic Treatment [...]

A Focus on Anaerobic Treatment There are 2 major types of systems used for wastewater treatment: aerobic and anaerobic systems. Each has different uses along with pros and cons. This particular article focuses on anaerobic treatment. Aerobic treatment is the focus of a companion article written by EBS. Anaerobic Treatment Anaerobic treatment is a process where [...]

Environmental Business Specialists (EBS) works with over forty aerated stabilization basins throughout the United States. EBS specializes in monitoring and troubleshooting aerated stabilization basins in the pulp and paper industry.  There are several consulting services that EBS provides to help mills evaluate their systems in order to make the necessary changes to stay compliant. Unlike [...]

The 30-minute settling test is used to determine the settled sludge volume of mixed liquor samples in activated sludge systems. It is useful in the routine monitoring of biological processes and should be run at least once per shift.  A thirty-minute settled sludge volume (SSV30) can be used to determine the returned-sludge flow rate and [...]

Biological waste treatment in the Aerated Stabilization Basin (ASB) process and in Activated Sludge systems is based on the ability of microorganisms to utilize dissolved oxygen in the process of breaking down the soluble organic substances present in the process effluent. The dissolved oxygen uptake rate (DOUR) test measures the respiration rate of organisms. Since [...]

Filamentous bacteria grow in filaments or strands, rather than floc, and are a major source of problems in activated sludge systems  including paper mills, refineries, chemical plants, food processing, etc. When present in small or moderate numbers, the filamentous bacteria are beneficial because they form a backbone upon which the floc formers grow and thus [...]

In North America, there are predominantly two systems used to biologically treat industrial wastewater — the aerated stabili ­zation basin (ASB or aerated lagoon) and the activated sludge system. These two systems have far more similarities than differences. Both pro ­cesses are based on the utilization of dissolved oxygen by microorganisms in converting organic and [...]