Biological Wastewater Treatment Course

Course Description

Dive into the world of biological wastewater treatment with this advanced engineering course offered by PurdueX. As water scarcity becomes an increasingly critical global challenge, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to design effective wastewater treatment systems, contributing to the solution of one of humanity's most pressing issues.

The "Biological Wastewater Treatment" course introduces you to the fundamental design principles and practices of biological wastewater treatment. You'll explore cost-effective techniques that are widely used in the industry to recover valuable water resources and reduce environmental pollution. By the end of this course, you'll be prepared to design wastewater treatment components and processes that meet specific water quality treatment goals.

What Students Will Learn

  • Comprehensive understanding of biological wastewater treatment principles and practices
  • Selection of appropriate unit processes for wastewater treatment
  • Design of wastewater treatment components and systems
  • Application of biological principles to water quality improvement
  • Techniques for water recovery and pollution reduction
  • Understanding of wastewater microbiology and its role in treatment processes
  • Knowledge of activated sludge process and other biological treatment techniques
  • Skills to address water scarcity and improve clean water access

Prerequisites

While there are no specific prerequisites listed for this course, a background in engineering, environmental science, or related fields would be beneficial. Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, and mathematics is recommended to fully grasp the concepts presented in the course.

Course Coverage

  • Introduction to wastewater treatment and its importance
  • Preliminary treatment processes (pump stations, bar screens, grit chambers)
  • Primary treatment and sedimentation
  • Wastewater microbiology and bacterial growth kinetics
  • Activated sludge process and biological treatment techniques
  • Secondary settling and disinfection
  • Tertiary treatment methods
  • Residual management
  • Design principles for wastewater treatment systems
  • Water quality goals and treatment objectives
  • Mass balance equations and microbial kinetics
  • Oxygen demand and transfer in treatment processes
  • Sludge production and management
  • Denitrification processes

Who This Course Is For

  • Environmental engineers
  • Civil engineers
  • Water resource managers
  • Environmental scientists
  • Wastewater treatment plant operators
  • Students pursuing advanced degrees in environmental engineering
  • Professionals working in water and wastewater management
  • Anyone interested in addressing water scarcity and improving clean water access

Real-World Applications

  • Design and optimize wastewater treatment plants
  • Improve existing treatment systems for better efficiency
  • Contribute to water conservation efforts in various industries
  • Develop innovative solutions for water recovery and reuse
  • Address water quality issues in communities facing water scarcity
  • Consult on environmental projects related to water pollution reduction
  • Advance research in biological wastewater treatment techniques
  • Implement sustainable water management practices in urban and rural settings

Syllabus

Week 1:

  • Introduction of Wastewater Treatment
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand
  • Overview of Wastewater Treatment Processes
  • Pump Station
  • Bar Screen
  • Grit Chamber
  • Equalization Basin

Week 2:

  • Primary Treatment
  • Sedimentation
  • Primary Sedimentation

Week 3:

  • Microbiological principles for biological wastewater treatment
  • Microbial kinetics
  • Mass balance equations

Week 4:

  • Bacterial growth kinetics
  • Sludge production
  • Oxygen demand and transfer
  • Food to microorganism ratio
  • Denitrification

Week 5:

  • Secondary Settling
  • Disinfection

By enrolling in this course, you'll gain the expertise needed to tackle one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Join us in the quest to ensure clean water access for all and contribute to a more sustainable future through advanced biological wastewater treatment techniques.