SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

摘要

A system for enhancing an activated sludge process that includes at least one aeration tank subsystem for receiving a flow a wastewater and for introducing dissolved oxygen to a population of microorganisms to promote growth of biological flocs in a mixed liquor defined by a concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem includes an impregnation tank for mixing the mixed liquor, virgin weighting agent, and recycled weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into biological flocs suspended in the mixed liquor to form weighted biological flocs. A flocculant injection port located downstream from at least one aeration tank for introducing a flocculant to the mixed liquor for enhancing settling and thickening of the weighted biological flocs and for providing agglomeration of non-impregnated biological flocs and/or partially impregnated biological flocs with weighted biological flocs. At least one clarifier separates and collects the weighted biological flocs from the mixed liquor to provide a secondary effluent and a settled sludge. A return activated sludge subsystem recycles the majority of the settled sludge to the at least one aeration tank. A weighting agent recovery subsystem removes and shears the remaining settled sludge and recovers the weighting agent therefrom and reintroduces the weighting agent to the at least one aeration tank. A wasting subsystem wastes the remaining sludge of the weight agent recovery subsystem to control the population of the microorganisms in the mixed liquor.