ABSTRACT
The term aerobic digestion refers to the use of aerobic bioreactors to stabilize particulate organic matter arising from primary clarification (predominantly biodegradable organic matter) and biological treatment (predominantly biomass) of wastewaters. The solids are oxidized using either dissolved oxygen or nitrate-N as the terminal electron acceptor. The resulting residue consists primarily of a relatively inert, humus-like material that degrades quite slowly (months to years) in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. The destruction of pathogens is also an objective in municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
