Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 371

Lecture 6

Lec 1

Wastewater Treatment
“2024-2025”
• Instructor :Dr / Marwa Maher
Water aeration
 Aeration
• Aeration in wastewater treatment is a crucial process that involves the
introduction of air (or oxygen) into wastewater to promote the biological
degradation of organic matter

• Water aeration has been long used in water treatment for the removal of odor
an wastewater taste-causing compounds, the oxidation of iron and
manganese, as well as corrosion control and aesthetics.
• Since the mid-1970s, however, the process has been used to remove
carcinogenic and hazardous chemicals from water.
• These chemicals include volatile organics such as trihalomethanes, radon,
trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene , 1,1,1-trichloroethane, chloroform, and
toluene. As a result, water aeration may be the single most important water
treatment process used in the 21st century.
 Importance of aeration

•To remove tastes and odors caused by gases due to decomposition.

•To increase dissolved oxygen content.
•To remove hydrogen sulfide and due to it.
•To remove minerals such as iron and manganese.
•Due to agitation, bacteria may get killed.
Factors Affecting Removal of Compounds by Aeration:
1.Physicochemical Properties of the Compound:
1. The ability of a compound to be removed through aeration depends on its hydrophobicity (water-
repelling nature), surface area, and volatility.
2. More volatile and hydrophobic compounds are easier to strip from water.
3. Surface Area: The larger the interaction area between air and water, the higher the removal
Compounds like toluene, benzene, and chloroform can be easily removed by aeration because they are volatile
and hydrophobic.
In contrast, highly water-soluble compounds (such as salts and heavy metals) cannot be removed through
aeration.
2.Temperature of Water & Air:
1. Higher temperatures increase the volatility of compounds, making aeration more effective.
2. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, which may influence the aeration process.
3.Process Parameters for Aeration:
1. Air-to-water ratio: More air increases oxygen transfer and compound removal.
2. Available mass transfer area: The efficiency of aeration depends on the surface area where gas
exchange occurs.
3. Contact time: The longer the water is exposed to air, the better the removal efficiency
Types of Aeration Process

1. Falling Water Units

Falling water units are one of the most widely used aeration
methods in water treatment processes. These aerators work by
increasing water-air contact through movement, allowing oxygen
to be absorbed and unwanted gases (such as carbon dioxide and
hydrogen sulfide) to be released. The following are the main types
of Falling Water Units:
1. Spray Aerators
•These aerators use nozzles to spray
water into the air in the form of fine
droplets.
•The increased surface area of the
droplets enhances oxygen transfer from
the atmosphere into the water.
•They are commonly used in cooling
towers and treatment plants to remove
volatile gases, including hydrogen sulfide
and carbon dioxide.
•Limitations: They are prone to water
evaporation and freezing, making them
less effective in cold climates.
 2. Cascade Aerators
• Water is allowed to fall down through multiple steps (typically 3 to 5 concrete steps) like a small waterfall.
• As the water cascades over each step, it comes in contact with atmospheric air. This contact causes gas
exchange, where oxygen from the air dissolves into the water, and unwanted gases (such as carbon dioxide
(CO₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and volatile organic compounds) escape.
• The aeration process enhances water quality by removing undesirable gases and increasing dissolved oxygen
levels. Can reduce carbon dioxide levels by up to 50–60
• The aeration helps in oxidizing iron and manganese, which makes it easier to remove these contaminants from
water.
 3. Multiple Tray Aerators
• These aerators use a series of trays
stacked on top of each other to create
multiple water falls.
• Water flows through perforations in the
trays, increasing aeration as it cascades
down.
• Some designs incorporate coke trays to
assist in the removal of dissolved iron and
manganese by oxidizing them into solid
particles that can be filtered out.
• Commonly used for: Iron and manganese
removal in drinking water treatment.
4. Packed Column Aeration
• This is one of the most efficient and
commonly used aeration techniques.
• In this system, air flows upward while
water is sprayed downward through a
packing material (such as plastic media
or slats), ensuring maximum air-water
contact.
• This type of aeration system is effective
for removing gases like carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs).
• Advantages:
• Provides high oxygen transfer efficiency.
• Compact design, making it suitable for
space-limited installations.
• Works well even for deep water treatment
tanks.
The Packing Media Achieves Two Main Benefits:
1️⃣ Increasing the Dispersion of Water Particles:
• As water flows through the packing media, it spreads out into thin films or small droplets
instead of falling as a single mass.
• This increases the surface area exposed to air, enhancing the efficiency of gas exchange
between water and air.
2️⃣ Slowing Down the Water Flow Inside the Column:
• Due to the engineered design of the packing media, water is forced to pass through
complex pathways instead of descending straight down.
• This increases the residence time of water within the tower, allowing for better oxygen
absorption and more effective removal of unwanted gases like CO₂, H₂S, and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs).
2- Surface Aerators
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a. Brush:a series of circular brushes partially submerged are rotated through the
water surface to cause turbulence. A support structure isrequired to suspend
the brushes over the water.

b. Floating: Floating aerator pumps the water from beneath it up through a draft
tube to the surface ,which disperses water into the air.
 3- Submerged Aerators
12 are used to inject air into water through:
Blowers
1️⃣ Static Tubes: Air is introduced through fixed tubes inside the treatment basin, helping to distribute oxygen in the water.
2️⃣ Diffusers: Devices that disperse air bubbles into the water, categorized into:
•Fine Bubble Diffusers: Provide a larger contact area, increasing oxygen transfer efficiency.
•Coarse Bubble Diffusers: Produce larger bubbles, creating greater turbulence in the water but with lower oxygen transfer
efficiency compared to fine bubbles.

Jet Aeration:
Air is directly injected into the pumped water, creating a high-energy mixture of water and air.
Enhances oxygen transfer efficiency by generating turbulence and strong mixing within the water.
Iron and Manganese Oxidation:
❖ When the total concentration of iron in water is 0.3 mg/L or greater, the
iron will cause the water to have an unpleasant taste and redden in
color this may result in the staining of plumbing fixtures and clothes, and
accumulations of iron deposits in the water mains.
❖ The aeration process oxides iron by changing the iron from the ferrous
state (fe2+) to the ferric state (fe3+), which converts the iron from a
soluble form(fe2+) to a non-soluble form (fe3+) that precipitates from the
water.
❖ Manganese concentrations greater than 0.3 mg/L in water will result in
dark brown staining. Oxidation will convert the manganese from Mn2+ to
Mn4+when the pH is above 9. Below a pH of 9, the process is negligibly
slow.
Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) by Aeration
Presence of H₂S and CO₂ in Groundwater:
• Groundwater often contains hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which can cause odor and taste issues.
• H₂S is a colorless gas with a foul odor similar to rotten eggs and is slightly heavier than air (specific gravity SG = 1.192).
How Does Aeration Remove Hydrogen Sulfide?
H₂S is volatile, meaning it can be easily removed by aeration, where air is introduced into water to strip the gas.
Removal Efficiency Depends on pH:
• At low pH, H₂S remains in its gaseous form (non-ionized), making it easier to remove via aeration.
• At high pH, H₂S converts into sulfide ions (S²⁻) and bisulfide ions (HS⁻), which are not volatile, making aeration less
effective.

Carbonic Acid (H₂CO₃) is a Weak Acid

•H₂CO₃ forms when carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolves in water, increasing the water's acidity.
•An increase in CO₂ concentration leads to a higher H₂CO₃ concentration, making the water more corrosive to metals and pipes.
How Does Aeration Reduce Corrosion?
•Aeration removes CO₂ from water, which reduces H₂CO₃ concentration.
•Lower H₂CO₃ levels decrease water acidity, making it less corrosive to pipes and metal surfaces.
 VolatileOrganicsRemoval
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❖ The US EPA has identified many types of organic compounds in our water
supplies.
❖ 🠶Some of the organic compounds are volatile, and, as a result, aeration would
be a good process selection for removing them from water.
❖ 🠶Some common volatiles include trihalomethanes, which have already been
discussed: chlorobenzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and
trichloroethylene , Aeration can achieve up to 95% removal of these
compounds.
❖ For compounds that are non-volatile, adsorption would be a better process
selection than aeration for their removal from the water.
❖ 🠶Adsorption is an excellent removal method for non-volatiles such as
styrenes, benzene, phthalates , and fluorine.
Any Questions