Today, let's talk about a particularly frustrating thing in sewage treatment - inorganic suspended solids. This thing may seem unremarkable, but in fact it can cause trouble in the biochemical system and mess up the proper sewage treatment process. Understanding how it affects the biochemical system is crucial for our friends who are engaged in environmental protection and water treatment!
First, let's talk about what inorganic suspended solids are. Simply put, it refers to the inorganic small particles in sewage that are insoluble in water and have not yet dissolved, such as sand, soil, metal oxides, as well as some industrial waste and debris. These particles vary in size and cannot be seen with the naked eye. They can only be seen under a microscope; The big possibility is like fine sand, which can be seen directly. They mix into the biochemical system along with the sewage, which may seem ordinary, but in reality, it poses a hidden crisis.
Let's first talk about the impact of inorganic suspended solids on microorganisms in biochemical systems. Biochemical treatment of sewage relies on a large group of "microbial communities", such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. They are like diligent "cleaners", constantly decomposing organic matter in the sewage day and night to make the dirty water clean. When inorganic suspended solids come, they become a big trouble for these "cleaners". Firstly, a large amount of inorganic suspended solids will envelop microorganisms. Imagine when you are suddenly wrapped tightly in a layer of plastic cloth while working, unable to move. How can you work? Microorganisms are the same. After being enveloped, their contact with organic matter in sewage decreases, making it impossible for them to "eat" organic matter normally, and their decomposition efficiency naturally decreases linearly. Moreover, if these suspended solids have a relatively hard texture, they may mechanically damage microbial cells and disrupt their structure during the flow of water, leading to microbial death. It's like a group of people working, and suddenly someone comes with a 'weapon' to cause trouble, injuring many people, which will definitely affect the progress of the work.
Let's talk about the impact on the processing efficiency of biochemical systems. The biochemical system for treating wastewater aims to remove pollutants as thoroughly as possible to meet discharge standards. But when there are too many inorganic suspended solids, they will interfere with this process. On the one hand, they will occupy the space of the reaction pool. Originally, the reaction tank was a "stage" prepared for the full reaction of microorganisms and sewage, but as a result, a large amount of inorganic suspended solids flooded in, like a pile of debris on the stage. The space for microorganisms and sewage to move and react became smaller, and the treatment efficiency naturally did not improve. On the other hand, inorganic suspended solids may contain some toxic and harmful substances to microorganisms, such as heavy metal ions. These heavy metals are like the "poison" of microorganisms. Once the concentration exceeds the standard, the activity of microorganisms will be severely inhibited, and even directly "poisoned to death". Without healthy and active microorganisms, the ability of biochemical systems to treat wastewater is greatly reduced, and the effluent quality is difficult to meet standards.
Inorganic suspended solids can also bring a series of troubles to the operation of biochemical systems. The most obvious issue is the sludge problem. During the biochemical treatment process, sludge is generated, which contains microorganisms, organic matter, and some inorganic substances. Under normal circumstances, sludge has certain settling properties and can settle down after treating sewage, making it convenient for subsequent treatment. But when there is too much inorganic suspended matter, it will mix into the sludge and change its properties. It will make the sludge loose and its settling performance worse, just like a tight dough that becomes loose and shapeless when too much sand is added. In this way, it is difficult for the sludge to settle in the sedimentation tank, resulting in an increase in suspended solids content in the effluent and a turbid water quality. Moreover, poor sludge settling can increase the difficulty and cost of sludge treatment, making subsequent processes such as sludge concentration and dewatering difficult to operate.
In addition, inorganic suspended solids may also clog pipelines and equipment. Wastewater flows through various pipelines, water pumps, aeration devices, and other equipment in the biochemical system. If these inorganic small particles accumulate on the inner wall of the pipeline, over time, the pipeline will narrow and the water flow resistance will increase. This not only affects the efficiency of sewage transportation, but may also lead to excessive pipeline pressure and the risk of rupture. For aeration devices, once blocked, air cannot be evenly transported to the reaction tank, microorganisms cannot receive sufficient oxygen, their activity decreases, and the entire biochemical reaction cannot proceed normally.
Since inorganic suspended solids pose so many hazards to biochemical systems, how should we respond? In fact, it is crucial to increase the pre-treatment process before sewage enters the biochemical system. Equipment such as grilles and sedimentation tanks can be used to intercept and settle large inorganic suspended particles in the sewage first. The grille is like a "big sieve" that can block large pieces of garbage such as tree branches and plastic bottles; A sedimentation tank utilizes gravity to allow denser sand, soil, and other materials to settle. For suspended solids with smaller particle sizes, coagulation precipitation can be used by adding coagulants to allow small particles to aggregate and become larger particles before precipitation and removal. In addition, during the operation of the biochemical system, it is necessary to regularly monitor and clean the equipment, promptly detect and handle blockages in pipelines and aeration devices, and ensure the normal operation of the system.
In short, although inorganic suspended solids may not be prominent, their impact on biochemical systems should not be underestimated. Only by fully understanding its hazards and taking effective measures can we ensure the stable and efficient operation of the biochemical system, ensure the smooth progress of sewage treatment work, and protect our water environment!
