Bodremoval System in Water Treatment

Bodremoval (Biological Oxygen Demand Removal) is a water treatment technology designed to reduce or remove the content of biodegradable organic matter in wastewater. This technology is very important in the water treatment industry as high levels of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) can cause serious problems to receiving water bodies, including oxygen depletion, algae overgrowth, and damage to aquatic ecosystems.

What is BOD and Why is it Important to Remove?

BOD or Biological Oxygen Demand is a parameter that measures the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water. The higher the BOD value, the more organic matter the water contains, and the more oxygen is required to decompose it. High levels of BOD may indicate:

Contamination of water by organic waste
Potential oxygen depletion in the water body
Risk of growth of pathogenic microorganisms
Possible violation of environmental regulations

In wastewater treatment, reducing BOD becomes very important to meet effluent discharge standards set by environmental regulations and to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

How the Bodremoval System Works

Bodremoval systems work by utilizing a biological process where microorganisms consume biodegradable organic matter and convert it into biomass, carbon dioxide, and water. This process can be carried out in different types of biological reactors and by several different methods.

Aerobic Process

In the aerobic process, oxygen is supplied into the wastewater to support the growth and activity of aerobic microorganisms. These microorganisms consume organic matter and convert it into new cells (biomass), CO₂, and water.

Activated Sludge Process: The most commonly used method, where microorganisms are suspended in wastewater with constant aeration and stirring.
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR): Uses plastic media as a place for biofilm growth of microorganisms.
Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR): Batch process where all stages of treatment occur in one tank.
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR): Combination of activated sludge process with membrane filtration to separate biomass from treated water.

Anaerobic Process

In the anaerobic process, treatment is carried out without the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic microorganisms convert organic matter into biogas (methane and CO₂), which can be utilized as an energy source.

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB): A reactor where wastewater flows upward through an anaerobic sludge blanket.
Anaerobic Digestion: The process of decomposing organic matter in an environment without oxygen.
Anaerobic Filters: Using media as a place for anaerobic biofilm growth.

Main Components of a Bodremoval System

An effective Bodremoval system consists of several important components that work together to achieve optimal BOD reduction:

Pre-treatment System: Filters out coarse solids and adjusts pH before entering the biological reactor.
Biological Reactor: Where the biodegradation process by microorganisms takes place.
Aeration System: For aerobic processes, providing sufficient oxygen for microorganisms.
Biomass Separation System: Separates microorganisms from the treated water.
Sludge Handling System: Treats and manages the biomass produced.
Monitoring and Control System: Monitors and optimizes system performance.

Bodremoval System Applications

Bodremoval technology is used in various industrial sectors that produce wastewater with high organic matter content:

Food and Beverage Industry

Meat and fish processing plants
Dairy and dairy industry
Beverage and beer manufacturing
Fruit and vegetable processing
Vegetable oil industry

Paper and pulp industry

Paper mills
Pulp mills
Paper recycling facilities

Textile Industry

Dyeing and coloring plants
Fiber processing plant
Textile washing facilities

Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmaceutical manufacturing plants
Biotechnology facilities
Research laboratories

Domestic Wastewater Treatment

Municipal wastewater treatment plant
Communal wastewater treatment system
Leisure and hospitality facilities

Advantages of Bodremoval System

Proper implementation of a Bodremoval system provides various benefits to the industry and the environment:

Regulatory Compliance: Helps industries meet effluent discharge standards set by the government.
Environmental Protection: Reduces negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems by preventing oxygen depletion.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces the cost of environmental fines and enables recycling of water for reuse.
Energy Production Potential: In anaerobic systems, the biogas produced can be utilized as an energy source.
Odor Reduction: Reduces unpleasant odors often associated with organic waste.
Operational Flexibility: Can be adapted to different waste types and operational conditions.

Supporting Technology for Bodremoval Systems

To optimize the performance of Bodremoval systems, several supporting technologies are often integrated:

Aeration System

An efficient aeration system is essential for aerobic Bodremoval processes. Some options include:

Diffused Aeration: Using diffusers to distribute fine air bubbles.
Surface Aerators: Introduces oxygen through agitation of the water surface.
Jet Aerators: Combines aeration with stirring for oxygen transfer efficiency.

Biological Media

Specialized media are used in various Bodremoval systems to support the growth of microorganisms:

Plastic Media: Used in MBBR and biofilters to provide surface area for biofilm growth.
Activated Carbon Media: Jacobi Carbon and Novasorb provide adsorption media that also support microorganism growth.
Ceramic Media: Provides an ideal pore structure for microbial colonization.

Control and Monitoring System

Proper monitoring and control is essential for optimal performance of the Bodremoval system:

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Sensor: Monitors dissolved oxygen levels to optimize the aeration process.
pH Sensor: Ensures optimal pH conditions for microorganism activity.
Automatic Control System: Create Instruments and Hydropro Instruments provide comprehensive monitoring and control solutions.

Dosing System

The addition of nutrients or chemicals may be required to optimize the biological process:

Dosing Pumps: Hydropro Dosing Pumps, LMI Dosing Pumps, and OBL Dosing Pumps ensure accurate nutrient or chemical addition.
Chemical Dosing Systems: For the addition of nutrients, coagulants, or pH adjusters.

Bodremoval System Optimization

To achieve optimum performance, Bodremoval systems need to be optimized with respect to several key factors:

Operational Parameters

Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT): Sets the contact time between wastewater and microorganisms.
Sludge Retention Time (SRT): Controls the age of microorganisms in the system.
F/M Ratio (Food to Microorganism): Balances the amount of organic matter with biomass.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Ensures optimal oxygen levels for the aerobic process.
Temperature: Keeps the temperature within the optimal range for microorganism activity.
pH: Maintains an appropriate pH for microbial growth.

System Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure optimal long-term performance:

Periodic cleaning of system components
Replacement of damaged or clogged media
Calibration of sensors and instruments
Aeration system inspection and maintenance
Effective sludge management

Challenges and Solutions in Bodremoval Implementation

Although effective, implementation of Bodremoval systems can face several challenges:

Variation in Organic Load

Fluctuations in BOD concentrations in the influent can impair system performance.

Solution: Implementation of an equalization tank and adaptive control system using Create Instruments to manage load variations.

Sludge Bulking

Overgrowth of microorganism filaments that cause sedimentation problems.

Solution: Strict operational parameter control and addition of chlorine or other chemicals using Hydropro Dosing Pumps.

Foaming

Formation of foam on the surface of the biological reactor.

Solution: Use of anti-foaming agents and adjustment of operational parameters.

High Energy Requirement

Aeration systems in aerobic processes require significant energy.

Solution: Implementation of efficient aeration systems and consideration of anaerobic technologies for effluents with high BOD.

Case Study: Implementation of Bodremoval in Industry

Food and Beverage Industry

A food processing plant in West Java implemented an MBBR system with Clack Media to treat effluent with a BOD of 2000 mg/L. Results: BOD reduction of up to 95%, meeting national effluent discharge standards, and cost savings of up to 30% through water recycling.

Textile Industry

A textile factory in Bandung integrated an MBR system with DuPont Filmtec Membranes for dyeing effluent treatment. Result: BOD reduction from 800 mg/L to less than 20 mg/L, nearly 100% color elimination, and water recyclability for production processes.

Domestic Wastewater Treatment

A residential complex in Jakarta implemented SBR with Pentair Control Valves for communal wastewater treatment. Results: More than 90% BOD reduction, odor elimination, and production of effluent that can be used for garden irrigation.

Recent Trends in Bodremoval Technology

Innovations continue to evolve in the Bodremoval field to improve efficiency and sustainability:

Integrated Membrane Technology

Integration of membrane technologies such as Toray Membranes and Asahi Membranes with biological processes to improve effluent quality and enable water recycling.

Granular Activated Sludge

Development of a granular activated sludge process that offers better sedimentation and higher biomass concentration.

Biofilm Based System

Use of specialized media such as Hydrogard Media to support more efficient biofilm growth.

Advanced Anaerobic Treatment

Development of advanced anaerobic reactors to treat sewage with high BOD while producing biogas as a renewable energy source.

Smart Control System

Implementation of AI and machine learning based control system for real-time optimization using Create Instruments.

Our Bodremoval Solution

We offer comprehensive Bodremoval solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our systems integrate high-quality components from leading manufacturers, including:

Biological media from Clack, Jacobi, and Hydrogard
Control systems from Pentair and Aqmatic
Dosing systems from LMI and Hydropro
Monitoring instruments from Create and Hydropro
UV systems for effluent disinfection from Hydropro UV and Wedeco

Our technical team provides design, installation and maintenance services to ensure optimal and long-lasting system performance. We also offer water quality testing and monitoring services to validate system performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Contact our team today to discuss your Bodremoval needs and discover how our solutions can help you achieve your water quality goals.

Bodremoval System in Water Treatment