Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning A

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

aerobic digestion (air-o-bick)

The breakdown of wastes by microorganisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO). This digestion process may be used to treat only waste activated sludge, or trickling filter sludge and primary (raw) sludge, or waste sludge from activated sludge treatment plants designed without primary settling. The sludge to be treated is placed in a large aerated tank where aerobic microorganisms decompose the organic matter in the sludge. This is an extension of the activated sludge process.