Influence of Biochemical Conditions on Activated Sludge Granulation

To demonstrate the influence of biological and chemical conditions on the formation of aerobic granules, a comparative study was conducted in three parallel SBRs(Sequencing Batch Reactors) by inoculating different seeding sludge and cultivating them with different carbon sources, the effects of seeding sludge characteristics and carbon sources of raw water were evaluated. After initiation, granulation succeeded in each reactor with SVI and MLSS values reaching 50 ml/g and 6 g/L respectively, and was not influenced by biochemical conditions. However, the size of the mature granules was affected by seeding sludge, SOUR value, surface charges, and ECPs. The hydrophobic character of mature granules was found to be affected by biochemical conditions.