Why Biological Systems Fail in Industrial Plants?Marwa M.SaadIndustrial Wastewater Treatment Expert | ZLD Consultant Assistant In municipal wast...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Ambassador for Sustainability | Water & Energy PPP Finance Facilitator
Marwa M.Saad
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Expert | ZLD Consultant Assistant
In municipal wastewater, this part is relatively easy. Human waste provides a perfect, balanced diet for bacteria.
In Industrial Wastewater, however, the environment is often hostile.
A major insight highlighted in the Handbook, and confirmed repeatedly in the field, is Nutrient Deficiency.
Imagine a beverage or sugar factory. The wastewater is loaded with sugar (Carbon), which looks like a feast for bacteria. But it often has near-zero Nitrogen or Phosphorus.
It’s like trying to survive by eating only candy—you have plenty of energy, but your body eventually collapses.
The consequences on-site are drastic:
The "good" bacteria get weak and won't settle.
Filamentous bacteria thrive (Sludge Bulking), causing massive carryover in clarifiers.
The whole system becomes unstable, making consistent Water Reuse impossible.
The Golden Rule of Operation:
Never assume the feed is balanced. The holy grail for industrial biology is keeping the C:N:P Ratio near 100:5:1. For every 100 parts of BOD, the biomass needs roughly 5 parts Nitrogen and 1 part Phosphorus.
My advice?
If your biological plant is struggling despite low toxicity and good aeration, don't just build a bigger tank. Check your influent nutrients. A simple dosing system for Urea (N) or Phosphoric Acid (P) is often the difference between a failed plant and a sustainable, high-performing asset.
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