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Oxidation Ditch Process

An oxidation ditch treats wastewater by flowing it through a circular basin where microorganisms digest the BOD with the help of oxygen added by rotating biological contactors. Wastewater is retained in the ditch for two days, longer than the two to four hours in a packaged plant. This allows a greater variety of microorganisms to treat the sewage. Oxidation ditches also efficiently remove ammonia and sludge. However, they are more expensive to operate and maintain than packaged plants due to electricity costs.

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2K views

Oxidation Ditch Process

An oxidation ditch treats wastewater by flowing it through a circular basin where microorganisms digest the BOD with the help of oxygen added by rotating biological contactors. Wastewater is retained in the ditch for two days, longer than the two to four hours in a packaged plant. This allows a greater variety of microorganisms to treat the sewage. Oxidation ditches also efficiently remove ammonia and sludge. However, they are more expensive to operate and maintain than packaged plants due to electricity costs.

Uploaded by

supriya2009
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Oxidation Ditch The Oxidation Ditch Process In this section we will answer the following questions:

How is wastewater treated using an oxidation ditch? How does an oxidation ditch system differ from a packaged plant system?

Introduction

Treatment of wastewater using an oxidation ditch is relatively similar to wastewater treatment in a packaged plant. But the oxidation ditch replaces the aeration asin and provides etter sludge treatment. The only pretreatment typically used in an oxidation ditch system is the ar screen. !fter passing through the ar screen" wastewater flows directly into the oxidation ditch. The oxidation ditch is a circular asin through which the wastewater flows. !ctivated sludge is added to the oxidation ditch so that the microorganisms will digest the B.#.$. in the water. This mixture of raw wastewater and returned sludge is known as mixed liquor.

#xygen is added to the mixed liquor in the oxidation ditch using rotating iological contactors %&B'(s.) &B'(s are more efficient than the aerators used in packaged plants. In addition to increasing the water(s dissolved oxygen" &B'(s also increase surface area and create waves and movement within the ditches. #nce the B.#.$. has een removed from the wastewater" the mixed liquor flows out of the oxidation ditch. *ludge is removed in the clarifier. This sludge is pumped to an aero ic digester where the sludge is thickened with the help of aerator pumps. This method greatly reduces the amount of sludge produced. *ome of the sludge is returned to the oxidation ditch while the rest of the sludge is sent to waste.

Comparison to a Packaged Plant !s you can see" the treatment of wastewater in an oxidation ditch is similar to treatment in a packaged plant. The two main differences etween the processes are the retention time and the type of organisms which digest the wastewater. &etention time is much longer in an oxidation ditch. ! packaged plant usually has a retention time of two to four hours while an oxidation ditch retains the wastewater for two days. *ince the $.#. is higher in the oxidation ditch than in a packaged plant" a greater variety of microorganisms live in the oxidation ditch. In contrast" packaged plants usually depend upon only a few types of microorganisms to eat the sewage.

Variations from the Typical Process In this section we will answer the following question:

How can the typical design e varied to promote ammonia removal and prevent washouts?

Ammonia Removal #xidation ditches can e set up to remove ammonia very effectively. +astewater can e sent through two sets of ditches" each of which has a different pH. The different pH in the two ditches creates a niche for certain microorganisms. These

microorganisms are very efficient at removing B.#.$ and converting ammonia to nitrates. #xidation ditches are much more efficient at ammonia removal than packaged plants are. !s a result" most new treatment facilities are designed as oxidation ditches.

Diversion asins and !ashouts *ome oxidation ditches" like the one located in Big *tone ,ap" -irginia" have a diversion "asin to hold the influent when flows increase ecause of excessive rainfall. The diversion asin holds the excess influent and allows more time for treatment. +ithout a diversion asin" heavy rains could cause a #ashout to occur. ! washout occurs when a large influx of influent rushes into the oxidation ditches. The ditches are una le to contain the extra water" so microorganisms" sludge" and wastewater are pushed through the plant and out into a river or stream efore eing properly treated. +ithout diversion asins" total washouts can e prevented y shutting off the inner ditches and allowing the outside ditch to circulate the influent" providing primary treatment to the water efore it is released. In periods of excessive rainfall" oxidation plants can e operated on high flow settings for a month at a time.

Advantages and Disadvantages In this section we will answer the following question:

+hat are the advantages and disadvantages of using an oxidation ditch system?

Advantages and Disadvantages The greatest advantage of an oxidation ditch is the efficiency of sludge removal. In an oxidation ditch" only a out ./0 of the original B.#.$. ends up as sludge" compared to a packaged plant where a out 120 of the B.#.$. ecomes sludge.

However" oxidation ditches are expensive to maintain. The monetary cost is very high per ton of B.#.$. removed. In some cases" the cost may reach nearly 3/2 dollars per ton. #xidation ditches have an additional environmental draw ack. The water is moved through the ditches using rotors" and these rotors in turn use electricity. The electricity used to operate the plant causes sulphur dioxide and other contaminants to e released into the atmosphere from coal4 urning electrical plants. #xidation ditches provide the most thorough process for treating sewage" ut oxidation ditches are also one of the most costly forms of treatment.

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