Bacteria consume biodegradable organic compounds (food waste, oils, proteins), converting them into energy, new biomass, and gases like CO2cap C cap O sub 2
Rapid growth where bacteria multiply but may not form heavy flocs, leading to poor settling.
Require oxygen, which is often added mechanically in aeration tanks. They are highly efficient at breaking down organic pollutants into CO2cap C cap O sub 2 and water.
Bacteria secrete a "slime layer" that allows them to clump together into flocs . These flocs are heavy enough to settle to the bottom of tanks, effectively separating solids from the purified water.
These microorganisms are natural decomposers that perform several essential functions:
The health of a treatment plant depends on the , which is the amount of incoming waste (food) relative to the amount of bacteria available to process it.