At a wastewater treatment facility, the food-to-microorganism ratio is utilised to govern and regulate the activated sludge process. It guarantees that the aeration tank has adequate microorganisms to eliminate the incoming organics (food) from the sewage. A balance could result if the ratio is off because there could not be enough microbes, to eliminate the food from the influent. The operator of an aeration tank can determine whether more microbes need to be maintained in the system, by monitoring the food-to-microorganism ratio.
Let’s discuss in detail about the food to microorganism ratio in detail.
What is food to microorganism ratio or F/M ratio?
At a normal wastewater treatment facility, the established food-to-microorganism ratio is 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of COD per day, per pound of MLVSS under aeration. Use 0.25 to 0.5 pounds of BOD per day per pound of MLVSS under aeration, if you're using BOD to gauge the amount of incoming organics.
Relationship between COD and BOD as well as MLVSS
Because, COD can be produced much more quickly than BOD, it is important to note that COD is frequently used to estimate the amount of incoming organics. While, BOD will need a 5-day test to determine the concentration, COD results can be acquired in less than 4 hours. Many wastewater treatment facilities cannot wait five days before making an operational modification. Changes must often be made as quickly as feasible.
The COD is therefore a better option in this scenario. The mixed liquid volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) concentration, which is a measurement of organisms and organic material, is used to assess the microbe concentration. Use of MLSS, which assesses both inorganic and organic chemicals, is not advised.
Why is calculation of food to microorganism ratio important?
Operators of wastewater treatment facilities can ensure that their bacterial population, has the right conditions for success by calculating the F:M ratio. Yet, a low F:M ratio causes problems for many plants.
A low F:M ratio indicates that your wastewater system contains too many bacteria, in relation to the incoming Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Healthy floc-forming bacteria are starved as a result, and problems like bulking or high effluent total suspended solids result. Many filamentous bacteria thrive in low F:M environments. Some types result in bulking problems in wastewater treatment plants.
Leading providers of Sewage Treatment Plants in India
Various businesses and industries can get in touch with the water treatment specialists, at Netsol Water for a number of cutting-edge sewage treatment methods, including aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment. For a range of sectors, we have also produced and designed unique physical and biological wastewater treatment systems.
We have also been offering municipalities wastewater treatment services for a long time. These services include phosphate removal, odour control, sludge dewatering, chlorination and dechlorination, and water clarification, etc. For further information, contact us by phone at +91 9650608473 or by email at enquiry@netsolwater.com.
