This week we are going to look at part three of our five-part discussion investigating the role that Oxygen has in the products and processes of our daily lives. We have already had a look at medical Oxygen and how it gets used in Oxygen therapy. We have also seen how vital Oxygen is in commercial fish farming practices.
The blog focus for this week is on the inclusion of Oxygen in the aeration of the retreatment process of waste water. An extremely important process in water conservation practices.
Wastewater Treatment Methods
There are currently two main ways of treating wastewater to purify it. The first method is by using suitable chemicals to force retreatment reactions to get rid of contaminants. And the second way is to allow for aerobic bio-degradation to occur. There are merits for both methods and depends on the conditions and circumstances at each site.
In this week’s blog, we are only going to look at the second method.
Aerobic Bio-degradation
The introduction of Oxygen into wastewater treatment occurs in the aeration process. Aeration is a process in which Oxygen is added to natural bacteria, which are allowed to grow for the purpose of removing water contaminants in a natural way.
The bacteria are grown in closed tanks that allow for the bacteria to form a sludge. This sludge is extremely important in the treatment process. The bacterial sludge breaks down all organic components in the water. But for the bacteria to be able to do so in a timeframe that is economic, Oxygen is needed.
The presence of Oxygen in the bacterial growth tank allows for a much faster growth in the bacteria. A faster bacterial growth rate means a quicker reaction time in the processing facility. There are also additional factors to consider in the inclusion of Oxygen to the system. These factors include the method of distribution and even application of Oxygen to the system.
Conclusion
The treating of wastewater is a very important part of water conservation for municipal and industrial sectors. Due to greater awareness of climate and change and its effects on environments all over the world; the need for better management of natural resources is more important than ever.
It doesn’t matter if water supplies are plentiful. Proper management of water is vital to sustainable resources. This is where Oxygen can help play a pivotal role in the natural processing of wastewater.
It is our hope that this blog series will bring awareness in the everyday role that Oxygen plays in the products we use. Next week we will look at a more industrial use for Oxygen.