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Additional Biological Treatment Process Units
Specialized variants and emerging technologies for biological wastewater treatment beyond standard configurations.
Overview
This section documents specialized biological treatment process units that extend beyond the standard activated sludge, biofilm, and anaerobic categories. These units address specific treatment challenges, emerging technologies, or specialized applications.
Specialized Variants
Activated Sludge Extensions
| Unit | Description | Status | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSTR-Sidestream | High-ammonia sidestream treatment (deammonification) | Documented | Link |
| PFR-Segment | Individual tanks-in-series compartments | Documented | Link |
| SBR-Flexible | Programmable cycle SBR with adaptive control | Documented | Link |
| Oxidation Ditch | Looped channel reactor with extended aeration | Planned | - |
| MBR | Membrane bioreactor with integrated filtration | Planned | - |
| IFAS | Integrated fixed-film activated sludge | Planned | - |
Biofilm System Extensions
| Unit | Description | Status | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeNite-Filter | Denitrification filter for tertiary N removal | Documented | Link |
| BAF | Biological aerated filter | Planned | - |
| RBC | Rotating biological contactor | Planned | - |
| Submerged Filter | Fixed-media submerged biofilm reactor | Planned | - |
Granular Systems
| Unit | Description | Status | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granular SBR | Aerobic granular sludge SBR (Nereda-type) | Planned | - |
| UASB-Granular | Anaerobic granular sludge reactor | Planned | - |
| Anammox Granular | Granular deammonification reactor | Planned | - |
Emerging Technologies
| Unit | Description | Status | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MABR | Membrane aerated biofilm reactor | Planned | - |
| AGS | Aerobic granular sludge (continuous) | Planned | - |
| Photo-bioreactor | Algae-based nutrient removal | Planned | - |
Classification by Application
Mainstream Treatment
Core treatment processes for typical municipal flows:
- CSTR, PFR, SBR (standard configurations)
- MBBR, Trickling Filter
- MBR, IFAS
Sidestream Treatment
High-strength recycle stream treatment:
- CSTR-Sidestream - Deammonification for reject water
- SHARON - Partial nitritation
- Anammox - Anaerobic ammonia oxidation
Tertiary Treatment
Polishing for stringent limits:
- DeNite-Filter - Denitrification filtration
- BAF - Biological aerated filter
- Polishing MBBR
Industrial Applications
Specialized industrial wastewater:
- High-rate UASB
- Anaerobic MBR
- Specialized biofilm systems
Selection Guide
By Treatment Objective
| Objective | Recommended Units |
|---|---|
| High-rate BOD removal | MBBR, High-rate CSTR |
| Complete nitrification | PFR, Extended aeration |
| Stringent N removal (❤️ mg/L TN) | BNR + DeNite Filter |
| Bio-P removal | Anaerobic/Aerobic SBR, A2O |
| Sidestream N removal | CSTR-Sidestream (Anammox) |
| Space-constrained | MBR, MBBR, Granular SBR |
By Plant Size
| Size | Recommended Configuration |
|---|---|
| <5,000 PE | SBR, Package plants |
| 5,000-50,000 PE | SBR-Flexible, MBBR, Conventional AS |
| 50,000-200,000 PE | PFR with segments, MBR, Oxidation ditch |
| >200,000 PE | Multi-train PFR, Parallel reactors |
By Load Variability
| Load Pattern | Recommended Units |
|---|---|
| Constant | PFR, CSTR |
| Diurnal variation | SBR, Equalized CSTR |
| Seasonal variation | SBR-Flexible, Modular MBBR |
| Storm events | SBR-Flexible, High-rate MBBR |
Modeling Approaches
Tanks-in-Series
Used for:
- PFR modeling via PFR-Segment
- Oxidation ditch (with recycle)
- Step-feed systems
Compartmentalized Models
Used for:
- Multi-zone BNR
- A2O, Bardenpho, UCT
- Hybrid systems (IFAS)
Batch Models
Used for:
- SBR all variants including SBR-Flexible
- Granular SBR
- Batch anaerobic digestion
Future Documentation
The following units are planned for documentation:
Phase 4 (Industrial)
- Industrial MBBR configurations
- Anaerobic MBR
- High-rate anaerobic systems
Phase 5 (Advanced)
- Granular SBR (Nereda-type)
- MABR (membrane aerated biofilm)
- Mainstream deammonification
Phase 6 (Emerging)
- Photo-bioreactors
- Bioelectrochemical systems
- Resource recovery bioreactors
Related Sections
- Activated-Sludge - Standard AS configurations
- Biofilm-Systems - Fixed-film and MBBR
- Anaerobic - Anaerobic treatment
- Zones - Zone-based modeling
References
- Henze, M. et al. (2008). Biological Wastewater Treatment: Principles, Modelling and Design. IWA Publishing.
- WEF (2018). Design of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, MOP 8.
- Tchobanoglous, G. et al. (2014). Wastewater Engineering, 5th Ed. McGraw-Hill.
- van Loosdrecht, M.C.M. et al. (2016). Experimental Methods in Wastewater Treatment. IWA Publishing.