Master the principles, design logic, and process integration of biological wastewater treatment—tailored for industrial applications.

Course Description

This course offers a comprehensive, engineer-friendly approach to biological wastewater treatment—a critical process in removing organics, nitrogen, and phosphorus from industrial effluents.
Designed for process engineers, environmental consultants, and plant operators, the course walks participants through the decision-making process for using biological versus non-biological methods. Key concepts such as BOD/COD ratios, flow regimes, microorganism positioning, and nutrient balance (C:N:P) are explained using visual models, rules of thumb, and real system examples.
Advanced sections cover Nitrification, Denitrification, and Biological Phosphorous Removal (Bio-P) along with system variations like MLE and LE configurations. Innovations in treatment technologies for resilience, energy efficiency, and retrofitting are also discussed.
All concepts are grounded in practical terminology, making this course suitable for engineers and technical staff with minimal microbiological background. Full set of course slides and diagrams included.

Who Should Attend

Process Engineers | Environmental Engineers | Municipal & Industrial Wastewater Operators | Water Treatment Designers | Plant Managers | Compliance Officers | Graduate Engineers |

Training Methodology

✔ Rules of thumb to simplify decision making

✔ Visuals over definitions—using schematics, flowcharts, and graphs

✔ Case comparisons of competing treatment setups

✔ Emphasis on real plant issues: fouling, low BOD feed, and scaling

✔ Practical knowledge, not microbiology lectures

✔ Designed by a senior process engineer with real-world field experience

Organizational Benefits

Choose the right treatment strategy—biological or chemical
Optimize reactor configurations and reduce operating footprint
Achieve regulatory discharge limits for BOD, TSS, nitrogen, and phosphorus
Upgrade outdated systems using modern biological innovations
Reduce energy consumption and improve operational flexibility

What You Will Learn

✔ When and why to use biological treatment over non-biological methods

✔ How to interpret BOD/COD ratios for biodegradability potential

✔ Core biological processes: aerobic, anoxic, anaerobic

✔ Flow regime decisions: CSTR vs. Plug Flow

✔ Suspended vs. attached growth systems

✔ How to achieve full nitrogen and phosphorus removal

✔ Reactor configurations: LE, MLE, Bardenpho and other process variations

✔ How to deal with “Low Food” problems in denitrification

✔ Strategies for upgrading old systems with modern biology

Seminar Outline (Highlights)

Foundations of Treatment Selection • BOD, COD, and TOC relationships • Rule-of-thumb for when to use biological vs. non-biological methods • Carbon-to-nitrogen-to-phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios
Microbial Basics and Reactor Types • Aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic conditions • Suspended vs. attached growth • Packed beds, fluidized beds, and rotating disks
Activated Sludge and Conventional Systems • CSTR and Plug Flow reactors • Applications for high vs. low BOD concentrations
Nitrogen Removal • Step-by-step process: Ammonification, Nitrification, Denitrification • Importance of food-to-nitrogen balance • Process variations: – Ludzack-Ettinger (LE) – Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) – Bardenpho (4-stage) • Supplementing with methanol or other C sources
Phosphorous Removal • Chemical vs. biological methods • Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (Bio-P)
Innovation in Biological Treatment • Reducing sensitivity to flow and temperature • Improving energy efficiency • Better control of microbial activity • Easy-to-implement upgrades for legacy systems

Practical Takeaways

✔ Biological reactor flow templates

✔ Rule-of-thumb decision charts for system selection

✔ BOD/COD ratio table for biodegradability

✔ Process comparisons: LE, MLE, Bardenpho

✔ Stoichiometry sheets for N and P removal

✔ Certificate of completion

✔ Post-course email support

Course FAQ

Q: Is this course beginner-friendly?

 A: Yes! The course uses simple language and visual tools, even for those with no prior experience.

Q: Do I need a calculator? 

A: No, it's not required.

Q: Will I get a certificate?

 A: Yes, a certificate of completion will be emailed.

Q: What if I have questions after the course?

 A: You can reach the instructor via email.

Q: Does it apply to both industrial and municipal plants? 

A: Yes, the principles apply to any system using aeration—lagoons, SBRs, MBRs, etc.

Q: Do I need microbiology training to attend? 

A: No. The course is designed for engineers and technologists, not biologists.

Q: Will I learn about reactor sizing and design equations?

 A: This course focuses on concept selection and system sizing.

What Past Participants Say

— “Made blower selection and aeration design crystal clear.” – Wastewater Design Engineer
— “I finally understand what SOTE and AOR actually mean—and how to apply them.” – Plant Operator
— “This helped me fix an underaerated basin. Saved us major downtime.” – Process Consultant
— “Great visuals and practical advice. Really useful!” – Municipal Water Technologist