In this laboratory project, students will use an Activated Sludge Pilot Plant to study the activated sludge process for treating non-hazardous and hazardous wastes and the anaerobic decomposition of the sludge produced. The laboratory will run concurrently with the lecture classes, thus clarifying the student's understanding of the processes involved. Using teaching microscopes, the students will observe waste water biota under various conditions of substrate metabolism. They will be able to observe which kind of sludge works well on given sewage feeds and settles well. Analysis with a gas chromatograph of the off-gas produced during anaerobic digestion of the sludge will allow the student to evaluate the kinetics and biological reactions involved in each treatment operation.
