Page 722 - Fundamentals of Water Treatment Unit Processes : Physical, Chemical, and Biological

Part V

Biological Treatment

Categories of microbiological reactions are (1) aerobic, (2) the literature, and second to provide a common basis for the
anaerobic, (3) anoxic, and (4) photosynthesis. To promote use of terms, definitions, criteria, etc.
these reactions, a variety of reactor systems have been In biological treatment, supporting sciences include micro-
devised, such as septic tanks, Imhoff tanks, intermittent filtra- biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemis-
tion, trickling filters, activated sludge, extended aeration, aer- try, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. Reactor
ated lagoons, nitrification, denitrification, rotating biological engineering involves knowledge of the lore of past practices,
contactors, bio-filtration, sludge digesters, anaerobic reactors, hydraulics, kinetics, mathematical modeling, and equipment.
anaerobic ponds, facultative ponds, land treatment, and con- As a note, the references and glossary for this chapter serve
structed wetlands. The foregoing is not an inclusive list. In all of Part V. The notation used is consistent to a large extent
other words, what we have is a spectrum of processes and with that recommended by Grau et al. (1982, pp. 1501–1505)
associated technologies. as a part of an IWA (International Water Association)
Part V consists only of Chapters 22 and 23, which deal Working Group.
with principles of biological treatment and reactor theory and
practice, respectively. As with other topics, a body of know-
ledge is involved. The two chapters attempt to distill REFERENCE
principles and lore that are applicable both to understand the
Grau, P., Sutton, P. M., Henze, M., Elmaleh, S., Grady, C. P. L.,
theory and practice of biological treatment and to gain further Gujer, W., and Koller, J., Recommended notation for use of in
knowledge on the literature. A few of the books on the topic the description of biological wastewater treatment processes,
were cited extensively, first because they have distilled from Water Research, 16:1501–1505, 1982.