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AGS - Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology

AGS - Aerobic Granular Sludge technology is an innovative biological treatment technology with enhanced sludge settlability, nitrogen and phosphosrous nutrient removal, less energy consumption compared to other SBR - Sequencing Batch Reactor technology and Activated Sludge Process.

AGS technology can be considered as SBR 2.0, which is largely based on the SBR sequencing batch reactor process, and cultivates and utilizes the unique properties of the anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic bacteria species in the granules, to achieve COD and nutrient removal with lower aeration energy. 

AGS (Aerobic Granular Sludge) Technology Advantages/Benifits

• Lower footprint and space requriements
• Reduced energy consumption - almost lowest energy consumption besides MABR process
• Nutrient removal without chemicals - nitrification and denitrification, phosphate removalSimultaneous nitrification and denitrification, and able to achieve high level of N removal
• Phosphsphorous removal
• Tolerates wide swings in flow and organic loading
• No clarifier required (same as SBR)
• Better control over filamentous growth and settling problems
• Less equipment to service and maintain (compared to SBR: no decanter, no mixer)
• Existing ASP or SBR plants can be converted to AGS
• No need to use bacteria or biofilm-supporting packing medium or solids-separation membranes

Wastewater Engineering Group provides AGS -aerobic granule sludge wastewater treatment plant and process design services, consulting, retroffing and new plants.

• AGS Plant Design
• AGS Process Design
• Pilot Test
• Startup and Commissioning
• Equipment Supply and Servicing

A process flow diagram of a typical AGS system is as shown above.

The processes inside the Sequencing Batch Reactor system include the following:

• Fill/Draw - raw sewage or wastewater is filled into the SBR tank, and it flows from bottom of the tank upwards to expell out the supernatant on top of the tank, which is the treated waste from previous batch. Anaerobic hydrolysis takes place during this phase, and phosphate is released from the sludge into the bulk liquid.
• React - aeration process for the carbonanceous organic pollutant removal, in the meantime, ammonia is removed by nitrification in the aerobic and anoxic layers of the aerobic granule. Phosphate is uptaken by the PAOs (Phosphate accumulating organisms) and removed from the bulk liquid.
• Settlement - settling of sludge after the react. The AGS granules settles very fast and within 5 mins it has all settled to the bottom of the tank.

Some major equipments used in Sequencing Batch Reactor System are:

• Pretreatment equipment: bar rakes, coarse and fine screens
• Fine bubble aeration systems: air blowers and diffusers
• Pumps for raw wastewater and treated effluent pumping
• AGS sludge thickening, dewatering and further treatment
• Effluent disinfection systems

Wastewater Engineering Group offers integrated AGS wastewater treatment plants /facility and process design, planning, for sewage disposal and water reuse.