{"id":12511,"date":"2022-12-07T17:43:37","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T15:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qmes.eu\/wastewater-treatment\/filamentous-sludge-foaming\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T12:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:43:55","slug":"filamentous-sludge-foaming","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/qmes.eu\/en\/wastewater-treatment\/filamentous-sludge-foaming\/","title":{"rendered":"bulking sludge and foaming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bulking sludge and foaming!<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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Bulking sludge due to filamentous bacteria is a common problem in biological wastewater treatment plants. These bacteria, such as Microthrix parvicella<\/em> or Nocardia species<\/em>, can significantly increase sludge volume by forming long, thread-like structures. This causes several operational challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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What problems do filamentous bacteria cause?<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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Foaming in the biological tank<\/strong>
\nFilamentous bacteria can cause foaming, especially if fats and oils are present in the wastewater. The foam can accumulate on the water surface of the biological tank, leading to blockages, reduced oxygen transfer and even equipment damage. This also complicates visual inspection and monitoring of the process.<\/p>\n

Poor sludge sedimentation in the clarifier<\/strong>
\nThe filamentous structure causes the flocs of activated sludge to become less compact. This reduces the sludge settling rate in the post-settling tank, creating what is known as a bulking situation<\/em>. The sludge continues to float instead of sinking to the bottom, which can lead to overflow of sludge into the effluent.<\/p>\n

Excessive suspended solids in effluent<\/strong>
\nPoor sedimentation and foaming increase the suspended solids content in the final effluent. This directly affects water quality and can result in failure to meet discharge standards. In addition, it can disrupt downstream processes such as tertiary treatment.<\/p>\n

The traditional method of light sludge control, in addition to adjusting a number of process parameters (such as oxygen levels and aeration regimes), consists of dosing flocculants to coagulate the sludge so that it becomes heavier and settles in the clarifier. Despite being an effective way to reduce suspended solids in the effluent, dosing flocculant does not solve the light sludge problem. The portion of the sludge that is returned to the biological reactor still contains filamentous bacteria and if the growth factors for these bacterial strains are still present in the biological reactor they will again overgrow the flocculant forming bacteria. Over time, the problem may worsen with prolonged flocculant dosing as the people-forming bacteria eventually disappear from the sewage sludge.<\/p>\n

QM Environmental International<\/strong> provides a suite of microbial products for controlling filamentous bacteria and reintroducing people-forming strains. For foaming due to filamentous bacteria, we supply a unique antifoam agent that is very effective on the tough foam formed by Nocardia species<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Licht\"Licht
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MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup> solutions for bulking sludge & foaming.<\/h3><\/div>
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\"Licht<\/span><\/div>

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/h3><\/h1><\/div>

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/strong> is a synergistic blend of selected, adapted microorganisms for use in wastewater treatment plants receiving domestic wastewater, wastewater from pulp and paper industries, breweries, food industries and similar wastewaters. Such waste streams regularly cause light sludge problems in post-settling basins.<\/p>\n

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/strong> is formulated to reduce the filamentous microbial population and improve sludge sedimentation to reduce suspended solids in the effluent. The product can be used as a contingency measure in conjunction with flocculants.<\/p>\n

When MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/strong> is used in a preventive manner in the form of a maintenance dose, the efficiency of the treatment plant will be increased while operational costs are reduced. MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/strong> contains a combination of aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms selected from a natural environment for their property a broad spectrum of substances found in domestic and industrial wastewater. It also contains enzymes and other ingredients selected to destabilize the protein mantle that protects many filamentous microorganisms.<\/p>\n

Applications:<\/strong><\/p>\n

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-XF<\/strong> is used in biological wastewater treatment plants of various industries and community wastewater treatment plants.<\/p>\n

Shelf life<\/strong>: 2 years<\/p>\n

Germ count:<\/strong> >3 x109<\/sup> cfu\/gram<\/p>\n

Packaging:<\/strong> 11.3 Kg buckets \/ 100 Kg drums<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Licht<\/span><\/div>

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup>-DF<\/h3><\/h1><\/div>

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>-DF<\/strong> is a synthetic liquid biocompatible antifoam agent for control of biologically formed foams in wastewater treatment plants. It is formulated for application in aeration tanks and digesters to suppress foaming without inhibiting biomass activity or causing other negative side effects often associated with the application of conventional antifoaming agents.<\/p>\n

M<\/strong>icroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>-DF<\/strong> does not contain silicones, mineral oil, nitrogen and phosphate compounds. As such, it is fully compatible with the use of MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup> <\/strong>microbial-enzymatic products.<\/p>\n

Applications:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aeration tanks of biological wastewater treatment and anaerobic sludge digestion tanks<\/p>\n

Shelf life<\/strong>: 2 years<\/p>\n

Packing:<\/strong> 18.9 L buckets \/ 208 L drums \/ 1000 L IBCs<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

To determine if MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>can provide a solution for your wastewater treatment, we need some data on the wastewater composition and treatment system. Below you can download the system information form, fill it out and return it to us. We will make a proposal without any obligation.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Download our system evaluation form here<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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If your wastewater treatment plant regularly suffers from light sludge formation, then preventive dosing of MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> products is an effective way to avoid these problems. The bacteria in the MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> products effectively compete with the wire-forming bacteria for the nutrients present on which the wire-formers grow. With more effective removal of these nutrients, the filamentous formers have no chance to overgrow the system.<\/p>\n

MicroCat\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> products used for these applications include:<\/p>\n