Wastewater Treatment Processes Quiz

Large objects, like bricks, bottles, wood, and plastic bags, can damage pumps and other equipment. Bar racks are screens that remove these objects from wastewater.

Grit is heavy material like sand, glass, silt, and pebbles found in wastewater. If not removed, it can damage pumps.

A velocity-controlled grit chamber uses water flow speed to separate grit from lighter solids. Heavier grit settles out, while lighter stuff is carried on.

Aerated grit chambers use air bubbles to help grit settle faster and separate it from wastewater.

A constant-level short-term sedimentation basin uses a fixed water level to settle grit. It's similar to a small settling tank.

A comminutor is a machine that grinds up large, solid waste, like rags and paper, in wastewater.

Stokes' law is used to calculate how fast a grit particle will settle based on its size, density, and the viscosity of the water.

Comminutors are typically placed after the grit chamber to protect the grinding blades from damaging grit.

A large basin used to collect and store wastewater flow, ensuring a consistent, even flow rate.

The process of removing pollutants that either settle at the bottom or float to the surface of wastewater.

A type of settling where particles settle at a rate determined by their weight and size.

A tank designed for gravity settling of suspended solids in wastewater, primarily removing larger particles.

The volume of water passing over a unit area of a sedimentation tank in a specific time period.

The length of time wastewater spends in a tank before moving on.

The volume of water flowing over a weir per unit length of weir in a specific time period.

The ratio of length to width for a rectangular sedimentation tank, typically ranging from 3:1 to 5:1.

The stage in wastewater treatment where dissolved and colloidal organic compounds are removed, typically using biological processes.

These are microorganisms that need oxygen to survive and break down organic matter in wastewater.

Aerobic bacteria convert organic matter into simpler compounds, such as water, carbon dioxide, and new cells.

These bacteria can only survive in the absence of oxygen.

The process where bacteria use oxygen as a final electron acceptor to break down organic matter.

The process where bacteria use other compounds like nitrate or sulfate as a final electron acceptor to break down organic matter.

Secondary treatment uses a variety of methods to remove organic compounds from wastewater, including activated sludge, trickling filters, oxidation ponds, and rotating biological contactors.

The protoplasm is itself organic, so it needs to be removed during wastewater treatment. This is done by gravity settling after the organic matter is stabilized by bacteria.

Organisms that absolutely need oxygen for survival and growth. They use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor for energy production.

Organisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. They use alternative electron acceptors like sulfate or nitrate for energy production.

Organisms that can survive with or without oxygen. They can switch between aerobic respiration when oxygen is present and anaerobic respiration when it's absent.

The most common type of decomposition where oxygen is used as the terminal electron acceptor. It produces carbon dioxide, water, and new cell material. Large amounts of energy are released, leading to sludge formation.

A type of decomposition where nitrate is used as the terminal electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen. It produces nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, water, and new cells.

Decomposition without oxygen or nitrate. It relies on alternative electron acceptors like sulfate or methane. It produces methane as a byproduct.

A type of decomposition where the terminal electron acceptor is oxygen. It produces carbon dioxide, water, and new cell material, along with a significant amount of sludge.

A type of decomposition where the terminal electron acceptor is nitrate. It produces nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, water, and new cells, along with a significant amount of sludge.

In anaerobic digestion, these substances accept electrons from organic matter being broken down.

The process where microorganisms break down organic matter without oxygen.

The major products made when organic waste is broken down without oxygen.

The time it takes for the number of bacteria in a population to double.

The period when bacteria are preparing to grow in a new environment.

The phase where bacteria are dividing at the fastest rate, increasing exponentially.

The division of a single bacterium into two identical cells.

The rate at which bacteria grow and divide.

A method of visualizing data where the y-axis is plotted logarithmically, transforming exponential growth into a linear relationship.

The point where bacterial growth stops due to limited resources or accumulation of toxic waste products.

The period following stationary phase where bacteria die faster than they reproduce.

The rate of bacterial growth, expressed as the rate of change of biomass concentration over time.

A model predicting the growth of microorganisms based on the concentration of a limiting food source.

The maximum specific growth rate of a population, achieved when there is an excess of limiting food.

The concentration of the limiting food source at which the specific growth rate is half of the maximum specific growth rate.