Abstract
Biological treatment consists of using micro-organisms to break down compounds which it is not desirable to discharge into the natural environment, by a cycle of transformations that can be opened on to the outside environment when the products obtained are considered to be nonpolluting. In the case of the biological treatment of urban wastewater, the process requires a mixed population of micro-organisms to be placed in contact with the pollutant elements of the water to be treated, i.e. suspended solids and soluble substances of organic or mineral origin. In conventional biological wastewater treatment processes, this contact takes place in an aerated tank so as to encourage both the flocculation of the suspended solids with the micro-organisms, and the oxidation of soluble reducing substances. These so-called Activated Sludge procedures require prior treatment to remove sand and grease and allow for settling. Their operation relies above all on downstream clarification which clears the treated water and recycles the mixed liquors in the aerated tank (see figure 1).
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Capdeville, B., Rols, J.L. (1992). Introduction to Biofilms in Water and Wastewater Treatment. In: Melo, L.F., Bott, T.R., Fletcher, M., Capdeville, B. (eds) Biofilms — Science and Technology. NATO ASI Series, vol 223. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1824-8_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1824-8_2
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