Role of primary settling tanks on SBR plants for secondary treatment

Abstract

The SBR technology is a modification of a conventional treatment process with active sludge technology based on the principle of batch loading of a bioreactor. Reduction of the total required volume of the SBR plants for secondary treatment can be achieved using the primary settling tanks as the first stage of treatment, before the SBR process. This is particularly evident in large-capacity plants preceded by separate (sanitary) sewerage systems. By introducing primary settling tanks in front of the SBR, the oxygen consumption decreases as compared to SBR without primary settling tanks.