Page 17 - SIMPLIFIED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FUNDAMENTALS \ Advanced Activated Sludge P1

Selecting the Ideal Species

Moving further along the timeline, Stalked Ciliates dominate within medium aged

mixed liquor. Stalked Ciliates have multiple feeding heads.

Each Stalked Ciliate head has fine hair-like cilia designed to capture a lot of organic

particles.

This microorganism is not mobile and will settle quickly. The branched stalks interlock

with neighboring Stalked Ciliates and together create a settling filter called an

Agglomerate, taking even more particles with them, as they quickly settle to the

bottom of the Secondary Clarifier.

The agglomerate matrix can be easily seen in a Settleometer.

Settled Agglomerate Matrix