Influencing Factors of Floc Size Distribution and Fractal Dimension of Activated Sludge

Floc size distribution( FSD) and fractal dimension are the important parameters for activated sludge. FSD of aerobic activated sludge during flocculation process was measured by a laser particle size analyzer,and the influence of velocity gradient,VSS /SS,EPS content and Zeta potential on FSD was investigated. The results showed that the floc volume-average size was negatively correlated to velocity gradient( R20. 80),and the order-of-magnitude of the floc volume-average size was equivalent to that of Kolmogorov scale( their differences were dependent on sludge VSS / SS,floc strength and etc). At a fixing velocity gradient,the floc volume-average size was positively correlated to VSS / SS or EPS( R20. 85),whereas negatively correlated to Zeta potential. Organic matter and EPS played important roles on the flocculation of activated sludge by enhancing the floc strength and improving the flocculation effect. Compared with polysaccharides,proteins in EPS seemed to be more beneficial for the flocculation of activated sludge. Based on microscopy and image analysis,the 2D and 3D fractal dimension of aerobic activated sludge floc was determined to be1. 28-1. 72 and 1. 70-2. 69,respectively. It was found that fractal dimension( 2D and 3D) was decreased with increasing VSS / SS( or EPS content). For the same activated sludge,the 3D fractal dimension was decreased with increasing floc size,and the relationship between 3D fractal dimension and floc size could be approximately described by a power function.