Why is aerobic degradation more important than anaerobic degradation for the treatment of large volumes of wastewaters rich in organic matter? Discuss.
Why is aerobic degradation more important than anaerobic degradation for the treatment of large volumes of wastewaters rich in organic matter? Discuss.

Solution:

Aerobic degradation is more significant than anaerobic degradation for the treatment of large volumes of organic-rich wastewaters because:

i) the majority of the organic sludge is digested in the wastewater during aerobic degradation.

ii) The decomposers are separated from the organic waste, which is rich in nutrients, after aerobic decomposition.

iii) During aerobic degradation, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) is lowered, making the water more favorable for aquatic species.

iv) Activated sludge is formed during aerobic decomposition, which creates gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, which are the major components of biogas.