Example of autonomous rational agents-Artificial intelligence
The procedure of waste water treatment
After the level of pollutants in waste water is find out, following 5 stages are applying for water treatment: (i) preliminary treatment, (ii) primary treatment, (iii) secondary treatment, (iv) tertiary treatment, and finally (v) sludge treatment. The first four stages are commonly apply for both aerobic and anaerobic procedure where sludge treatment is mainly for anaerobic.
Aerobic reactors or digesters
Biological treatment of settled sewage (sewage that has undergone primary treatment) can be depend on a (i) fixed film digester or (ii) a dispersed growth digester under aerobic conditions.
(i) Fixed film digesters: In these digesters, the biological factors or micro-organisms are present in the form of a film on large discs or filter particles. There are basically two type of: (i) trickling filter digesters and (ii) rotating biological contactors.
(ii) Dispersed growth digesters: In this type of processes, the microbial population is spread throughout the sewage being treated. The activated sludge process is a example of this; it uses a huge aerated vessel for a big scale oxidation of liquid wastes. The micro-organisms are spread as flocs throughout the waste water being treated. Waste water constantly flows into the pot and treated water flows out at a predefined speed to obtain optimal digestion of the dissolved organics. With the treated water, the microbial flocs also flow out. The water that is treated is carried into ponds with huge surface area from where it flows out at very little speed. As a outcome, the suspended solids including the microbial flocs settle down; the sediment is called activated sludge as it contains microbes for aerobic digestion. A part of the activated sludge is continually returned to the digester pot to restore the microbial population that is lost due to washout; the remaining portion of sludge is disposed off.
Micro-organisms
The micro-organisms mixed up in aerobic digestion and their activities are the similar as those found in nature. The organic materials (biodegradable component) are oxidised to H2O and CO2, and nitrogenous compounds and biomass are also formed. However in waste water, the organic materials are present in much higher concentrations than in nature. so, the microbial population and activities are increased accordingly by (i) providing large surface for bio film formation and O2 exchange in fixed film processes, mainly trickling filters, and (ii) returning a part of the activated sludge to the digester vessel and making effective aeration arrangements.