Summary: BULKING SLUDGE TREATMENT BY MICROSCOPIC
OBSERVATION AND MECHANICAL TREATMENT
W. Heine, I. Sekoulov, H. Burkhardt, J. Behrendt
Section of Sanitery Engeneering, Technical University of Hamburg­Harburg, Eissendorfer Str. 42, Hamburg,
Germany 21073
ABSTRACT
By the consideration of the microscopic picture of activated sludge samples it is possible to introduce a
further biological parameter apart from the conventional physico­chemical parameters for the
evaluation and control of biological stages of waste water treatment plants. It is reported that different
parameters have certain influences on the activated sludge floc and on the developing biozenosis. An
automatical image analysis of activated sludge floc pictures with the support of algorithms of the
digital image processing would enable the introduction of a new sum parameter to support operation
control of aeration tanks.
By means of the microscopic image possible threatening operational disturbances can be discovered
before this is possible with the conventional physico­chemical parameters. In particular, the early
automatic recognition of first signs of bulking sludge and swimming sludge caused by the excessive
growth of filamentous microorganisms represents an important instrument for the operation of the
biological stage of waste water treatment plants. If the threatening extensive growth of filamentous
microorganisms is promptly detected, it is e.g. possible to damage the filamentous micro organisms
directly by the entry of mechanical energy.

Source: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Informatik,, Lehrstuhls für Mustererkennung und Bildverarbeitung

Collections: Computer Technologies and Information Sciences