NEETZoologyMicrobes in Human Welfare
What is the function of the anaerobic sludge digesters?
Options
- ATo remove solid particles
- BTo digest the bacteria and the fungi in the sludge
- CTo release the effluent into natural water bodies
- DTo produce biogas
Correct answer
B. To digest the bacteria and the fungi in the sludge
Step-by-step solution
Once the BOD of sewage or waste water is reduced significantly, the effluent is then passed into a settling tank where the bacterial ‘flocs’ are allowed to sediment. This sediment is called activated sludge. A small part of the activated sludge is pumped back into the aeration tank to serve as the inoculum. The remaining major part of the sludge is pumped into large tanks called anaerobic sludge digesters. Here, other kinds of bacteria, which grow anaerobically, digest the bacteria and the fungi in the sludge. Duri