Water Research Pergamon Press 1970. Vol. 4, pp. 69-78. Printed in Great Britain.

VARIATION IN THE ACTIVATED SLUDGE VOLUME

INDEX
JERZY GANCZARCZYK
Water Economics Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

(Received 28 July 1969)

Abstract--From the operational experience of the full-scale activated sludge treatment of the
eftluent from the unbleached Kraft pulp production in the Ostrolcka Mill, it was observed that
substantial decreases m sludge volume index take place due to the extended storage of the
activated sludge in the secondary clarifiers. Moreover, was found that in the stud~ed range of
wastewater pH and alkalinity the sludge loadings are the main factor determining the sludge
volume index in the aeration tanks. Both decreases and increases of the sludge loading causes
increases of the sludge volume index. The optimal sludge load values for the minimal sludge
volume index are between 0.3-0'5 g BOD/g of sludge per day.
During the mixed liquor piston-type flow in the aeration tanks, at low average sludge
loadings, there were also observed increases of the sludge index value and then partial de-
creases. At higher average sludge loadings the sludge index values after initial minimal decreases
showed a tendency to increase.
~ A u f Gnmd der Betriebserfahrungen tier vbllig aktivierten Schlammbehand-
lung des Ausflusses der ungebleichten Pulpenproduktion yon Kraft in der Ostrol~ka Mtthle
ergab sich, dass bedeutende Abnahme im Schlammvolumen-Index infolge der verlangarten
Lagerung des aktivierten Schlamms in den sekundltren Kllrapparaten stattfand. Ausserdem
warde behauptet, class in dem beobachteten Bereich yon Abflusswasser pH und Alkalitat die
Scb.lammbelastungen der Hat/ptfaktor in Feststellung des Schlammvolumen-Index in Atfl]ock-
erunEstanks sin& Sowohl das Abnehmen wie das Zunehrnen der Schlammhelastungen vemr.
sacht ein Zunehmen des Schlammvolmnen-Indexes. Die optimum Schlammhelastungswerte
fflr einen minimum Schlammvolumen Index sind zwischen 0,3 and 0,5 g BOD per g Schlamm
und Tag. Wghrend der gemischten, kolbenartigen Stromnng yon Laugen in den Auflockerungs-
tanks, hei Schlammhelastungen niedrigen Durchschnitts, wurde ehenfalls Zunehmen des
Schlammindexwertes und dann eine teilweises Abnehmen beobachtet. Die Schlamm-Index-
werte zeigten bei 8rOsseren durchschniRlichen Schlarnmbelastungen nach anfanglichem, mini-
rnalen Abnehmen eine Neigung zum Zunehmen.

INTRODUCTION
DURING perfornlanoe studies o f the u n b l e a c h e d K r a f t p u l p mill effluent t r e a t m e n t
p l a n t in O s t r o i ~ k a (GANcz.',RCZYK, 1969) variations in the activated sludge v o l u m e
index (SVI) were noted. T o o b t a i n some e x p l a n a t i o n s o f these p h e n o m e n a the present
studies were carried out.

LITERATURE REVIEW
It is believed t h a t the activated sludge v o l u m e index is the biological response to
m a n y e n v i r o n m e n t a l factors. T h e m u l t i t u d e o f these factors m a k e s it difficult to pre-
dict the respective trends a n d values.
A s the acedvated sludge b n i k i u g agents the d e v e l o p m e n t o f filamentous organisms
(SMrr, 1934; R u c m ~ F r a n d KACtBO.R, 1941 ; JONES, 1965) a n d the increase o f zooglea
69
 70 JERZY GANCZARCZYK

bound water (HEUKELEK1ANand WEISBERG,1956) are considered Both these factors

are influenced by the activated sludge loading and the cheimcal composition of nts
substrates (GANETELLIand HEUKELEKIAN,1964).
The bulking of the activated sludge studied during treatment of Kraft pulp mill
effluent may be contributed to by filamentous growth of the sulphur bacteria Beggtatoa
and Thwtrix, and stimulated by the sulphide and thio-llgnin content of wastewater
(GANCZARCZYK, 1967). This observation was later confirmed by the laboratory
studies by LELONKIEWICZ (1968) in which sodium sulphide in amounts of 25.50,
and 100 mg/l S" was added to the treated wastewater.
Recently PASVEER(1969) noticed a connection between the wastewater nitnficatton
and activated sludge bulking. The causative orgamsm of this type of bulking was a
filamentous growth of E. coh. Although it seems probable that this type of sludge
bulking is quite common, it cannot take place in unbleached Kraft pulp mill effluent
treatment because of the complete prevention of the wastewater nitrification due to ~ts
relatively high pH values (GANCZARCZYK, 1969).

STUDY OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

The objectives of this research were to obtain more information on (a) the decrease
of SVI values in consequence of the activated sludge flow through secondary clarifiers,
(b) the variation of SVI values in mixed liquor with the activated sludge loadmg, and
(c) the changes of SVI values with the mixed liquor flow through the aeration tanks
with limited longitudinal mixing.
This research was based exclusively on the operational data of the formerly de-
scribed full-scale plant for the activated sludge treatment of the unbleached Kraft pulp
null effluent (GANCZARCZYK,1969). All measurements and analytical determinatnons
were done in accordance to the methods g~ven in the former paper.

OPERATIONAL DATA
Old and new SVI data for the activated sludge mixed liquor aeration tank overflow,
and those for the return sludge, in both performance study periods (GANCZARCZYK,
1969), are presented in Fro. 1 in log-normal distribution. Arrows on this figure show
the respective decreases of SVI values.
The average SVI values for the five different characteristic periods of the treatment
plant performance are given in the TABLE1, and presented in FIG. 2 as a function of the
activated sludge loading. This figure also shows the final values of the changes studied
in SVI data in the aeration tanks, and the average SVI values from studies presented
on FIG. l.
Measurements of the variation of the SVI values with the mixed liquor flow through
the aeration tanks of limited longitudinal mixing are given in TABLES2 and 3 and FIG. 3.
In TABLE4 the respective treatment parameters are presented.

DISCUSSION
General
From various measurements and observations it appears that the activated sludge
volume index values at the treatment of the unbleached Kraft pulp mill effluent are
 Variation in the Activated Sludge Volume Index 71
related to: (a) the detention of the activated sludge in the secondary clarifiers, (b) the
activated sludge loading, (c) the p H and alkalinity of the wastewater, (d) the mineral
nutrients content of the waste water, (e) the sulphide contents of the wastewater and
(f) the wastewater temperature.

$ ¢o .,qp $o -g

~ercen? of volu@.~ @~uo[ or l~s$ lhon

FIG. 1. Distribution m log-normal scale of SVI data of the activated sludge treatment of the
unbleached Kraft pulp mill effluent treatment (1--mixed liquor in Period I; 2--return sludge
in Period I; 3--mixed liquor in Period II; 4--return sludge in Period II).

TABLE 1. AVERAGE VALUES OF SLUDGE VOLUME INDBXD DURING CHARACTERISTIC PERIODS OF THE
.TREATMENT PLANT pERFOI~[ANCE

Measurement series a b c d e

Measurement periods 1-15 Nov. 22 Nov.- 30 March- 25 April- 13-21May

1967 6 Dec. 1967 13 Aprd 1967 9 May 1967 1967
Number of measurements 15 15 15 15 9
Average SVI (ml/g) 115 75 82 127 168
Average sludge loading 0.59 0-56 0-39 0 20 0-24
(g BOD/g.day)
Average MLSS content (g/m 3) 2920 2585 3165 4336 2169
Average pH of plant influent 10-2 10-4 9-3 8-3 8.5
Average pH of plant effluent 82 8-4 7.7 7-5 7-7

In this research factors (a) and (b) were mainly studied. The variance of the other
factors during the study period was rather limited and did not have any significant
influence on the data obtained.

Decrease of S VI in secondary clarifiers

A decrease of the sludge volume index in consequence of the flow of activated
sludge through secondary clarifiers is well known, and often explored in operational
practice. In the case of the studied treatment plant, however, the overdimentioned
secondary clarifiers cause changes in SVI that are particularly singificant (l~o. 1).
72 JERZY GANCZARCZYK

The average SVI values measured in Period I and II were 181 ml/g and 208 ml/g,
respectively. Corresponding values for the return sludge were 135 ml/g and 96 ml/g
This means that the SVI data decreases were of 25.4 per cent in Period I, and 54 per
cent in Period II.
Similarly, the respectwe medians of the log-normal data distribution (FIG. l)
were, for the mixed hquor, 170 ml/g and 196 ml/g, and for the return sludge 128 ml/g
F

~ l ~ 6Lr

,fill

i
i
oe
i
d~

440

4~

l-

activated alufge BOO loading ,g,/g d

FIo. 2. Relationship between SVI data and activated sludge BOD Ioa(hng for sewage and the
unblear,hcd Kraft pulp mill effluent treatment (E--relationship for sewage treatment according
to Eckenfelder; a, b, c, d, c---average values of SVI data for unbleached Kraft pulp mill effluent
treatment in study periods presented on TASt~ 1; I, H, III, IV--the final values of studied
changes in SVI data in aeration tanks as presented in TABLES2 and 3; GI, gII---average values
of SVI data for Periods I and II presented in FIG 1).

and 80 ml/g. The respective SVI values decreases amounted to 32.8 per cent m Period
I, and 59 per cent in Period II.
The mechanism involved m these changes is hardly clear. It is possible that pro-
longed anaerobiosis o f the activated sludge is one of the causative agents, although the
studies of WESTGARTH et al. (1964) and FORD et al. (1966) only partially confirm this
hypothesis. The other possibihty is the physical thickening of the activated sludge
on standing in comparatively deep layers in the secondary clarifiers. Concentration
of the activated sludge itself has some influence on the SVI values (IssMB~G et al.,
1959; Sos~ts, 1968). The expected changes, however, are of a much smaller order.
 Variation in the Activated Sludge Volume Index 73

Relationship between SVI values and activated sludge BO D ioadings

T h e relations between the SVI values a n d the activated sludge B O D loadings for
wastewater f r o m the unbleached K r a f t pulp mill is given in the FXG. 2. All the data,

TABLe 2. VARIATIONS OF S V I DATA WITH THE MIXED LIQUOR FLOW THROUGH THE AERATION
TANKS

Series I (10 August 1967) Series II (18 August 1967)

Sampling point Alkalinity Alkalinity
(in m of the SVI (ms/l) (m-equiv./l) SVI (ms/l) (m-equiv./l)
tank length) p m p m

0.0 107 0-0 8-5 64 0-0 7.6

3'0 105 0'0 8-0 62 0-0 7.3
6'0 103 0.0 7-8 61 0-0 7.3
90 103 0'0 7-5 61 0'0 7-1
12-0 103 0.0 7.3 61 0'0 7.0
15'0 100 00 7.0 60 0-0 7-1
18 0 104 0.0 7.0 63 00 6.9
21.0 1I0 00 68 66 00 7"0
24.0 112 0'0 6-8 67 00 7-0
27'0 114 0-0 6"8 64 00 6'9
30 0 115 0'0 6-9 67 00 6'9
34 0 120 0'0 6-9 75 0,0 7.1

TABLE3. VARIATIONSOF SVI DATA WITH THE MIXED LIQUOR FLOW THROUGH T t ~ AERATION TANKS

Series HI (11 July 1968) Series IV (16 July 1968)

Sampling point BOD COD Alkalinity BOD COD Alkalinity
(in m of the SVI mg/l mf,/l pH (m-equiv.)l SVI mg/l mg/I pH (m-equiv.1)
tank length) mg/l O2 O, p m mg/l 02 02 p m

0'0 155 168 640 7"6 0-0 7-6 136 210 720 8'1 0'0 9"3
3'0 140 104 610 7'5 0-0 7-6 157 126 620 8-0 0'0 9'2
65 174 96 610 7'5 0-0 7 45 147 104 590 8'0 0-0 9'0
10'0 182 31 440 7.6 00 7-4 151 55 400 7.8 0-0 7.8
13'5 194 29 380 7"6 0"0 7'0 185 57 390 7-9 0'0 7"7
17-0 191 31 380 7.7 0-0 6-9 175 35 360 77 00 7-2
20.5 187 24 350 7-7 0.0 6.8 181 28 340 7-8 0-0 7'2
24.0 184 24 350 7.7 0-0 7-0 197 31 340 7'8 0'0 7"0
27'5 177 23 345 7.6 0-0 6"65 191 26 345 7-6 0'0 6'9
32"0 172 25 340 7.7 0-0 6-9 185 28 340 7-8 00 69
34.0 174 24 340 7-6 0-0 6'8 174 30 344 7'7 0.0 70

except for the p o i n t G I , fit the d r a w n fine quite well, f r o m w h i ch it can be c o n c l u d e d

that the optimal activated sludge loadings for this wastewater are in the range o f
0.3-0.5 g B O D / g . d a y .
Th e same relationship f o r sewage was studied by LOGAN an d BUDD (1956). ECrd~N-
~ L D ~ (1967) using these data a n d his own, published a curve very similar to t h a t
74 JER.ZY GAI~CZARCZYK

d r a w n as a result o f the present studies. The two curves are practically parallel, and
show the tendency o f activated sludge to bulk at the very low loadings a n d at increased
loadmgs. This feature is c o m m o n for sewage as well as for K r a f t p u l p mill effluent.

TABLE 4. TREATMENT PARAMETERS FOR S V I DATA PRESENTED IN TABLES 2 AND

Series I Series II Series III Series IV

MLSS (g/m 3) 4000 3600 3300 3100

Average sludge
BOD loading 0 35 0-42 0-15 0 20
(g/BOD/g.day)
Average BOD tank
volume loading 1200 1540 510 630
(g BOD/m a day)

• -7
I

.]--
-[ i

i
L
v ,

c !

I I

60 ~ ; ]
i

2 6 40 ¢2 44 46 a £0 B ~t td M m ~

length ofthe aeration tank, m

FIG. 3. Changes in S ~ data during the mixed liquor flow through the aeration tanks (I, ]I, ]II,
IV--respective series of measurements as in T~J~L~s 2 and 3).

However, the curve for the industrial effluent is displaced a little to the right m c o m -
p a r i s o n with the curve for sewage.
This m a y show t h a t the wastewater studied has a higher t e n d e n c y to cause the acti-
v a t ~ l sludge to b u l k at low loadings t h a n sewage; this c o u l d b e a t t r i b u t e d to its h y d r o -
c a r b o n contents. O n the o t h e r hand, at i n c r ~ loadings this wastewater shows a
 Variation in the ActivatedSludgeVolumeIndex 75
lower tendency to cause activated sludge bulking, which may be explained by its
high pH value and alkalinity.
On FIG. 4 a comparison is given between the relationship shown in FIG. 2 and some
other studies of the same type. The SVI data for sewage given by D^I~T and SPUR]t
(1968) show the activated sludge tendency to bulking at loadings even lower than
those of ECKENFELDER(1967). In the range of higher loadings, the data of GANCZAR-
CZ~'K and BACrlANE~ (1969) obtained m studies on the concentrated wastewater
treatment from fiberboard production, show the optimal SVI value at the loadings
of 0.8 g BOD/g.day, and a comparatively moderate tendency of the activated sludge to
bulk at lower and higher loadings.
These relationships can be generalized by the statement that with the activated
sludge treatment of different wastewaters it is always possible to determine the range of
loadmgs for which the minimal SVI values are obtained. These values from the practi-
cal point of view of the respective treatment plant operation, often can be taken as the
opumal ones.

The changes of S V l values in the aeration tanks

At higher BOD loadings of the activated sludge (Series I and II on FIG. 3) there
were observed during the flow of the mixed liquor through the aeration tanks with
limited longitudinal mixing, initial small decreases of the SVI values, and then--
starting roughly at half of the tank length--increases of these values, which obtained
their maximal growth at the end of the tanks. The measured increases of these SVI
from the minimal to the maximal values were 20 and 23 per cent for Series I and II,
respectively.
The above phenomena can be simply explained by the initial SVI values decreases
due to the biosorption of ti~e wastewater constituents on the activated sludge fioc,
and by the successive increase of the SVI values with the decrease of the sludge
loadings, and wastewater pH and alkalinity.
In the range of low loadings of activated sludge (Series III and IV) the situation was
quite different: the SVI values increased rapidly with the flow of the mixed liquor
through the tanks, and then--in the second half of the tanks decreased a little.
The increases between the initial minimal and the maximal ones were 38 and 47 per
cent for Series III and IV, respectively. The successive SVI values decreases were
correspondingly 10 and 12 per cent.
The first part of these changes can be explained in the same way as the second part
of the changes for Series I and II. The reasons, however, for the successive decrease
of the SVI values are not yet clear.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on studies of the activated sludge treatment plant for Kraft pulp mill effluent
in Ostrolgka, the following statements can be drawn:
1. Substantial decreases in sludge volume index take place due to the extended
storage of the activated sludge in the secondary clarifiers
2. Within the range of wastewater pH and alkalinity studied, the primary influence
on the sludge volume index in the aeration tanks was the sludge loading. Both de-
creases and increases of this factor cause substantial inreases of sludge volume index.
F W
Z00

~0

Z-
¢3

¢3

o,7
act,vafed sludqe BOD Joad~cl , q/q d
FIG. 4 Comparison of various relationship between SVI values and acttvated sludge BOD loadmgs (D--according to DART and
SPUgR (1968); E--according to ECrOSh-~LDER (1967); G - - a s m this study; B--according to GANCZARCZYK and BACHANEK (1969)
for the concentrated wastewater).
 Variation in the Activated Sludge Volume Index 77

3. F r o m this a p p r o a c h , the o p t i m a l sludge B O D loadings for the t r e a t m e n t o f

u n b l e a c h e d K r a f t p u l p mill wastewater are in the range 0.3-0.5 g BOD/g. day.
4. As the m i x e d l i q u o r flows t h r o u g h a e r a t i o n tanks with limited l o n g i t u d i n a l
mixing, some changes in sludge v o l u m e index also t a k e place. F o r very low sludge
l o a d i n g the indexes initially increase a n d afterwards u n d e r g o some decrease; on the
c o n t r a r y , for higher loadings o f the sludge, after initial decreases in the sludge v o l u m e
indexes, their g r a d u a t e increase was observed.

,4cknowledgement--Theauthor thanks for help given by Mr. K. DUDA in collecting the analytical data
presented in this paper.

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