In aerobic biological waste water treatment processes, oxygen is fundamental to the effective removal of BOD and COD.
Positive Dissolved Oxygen levels must be maintained in any aerobic biological treatment plant in order to allow the biomass to metabolise BOD and COD optimally. Whilst aeration is commonly used, higher purity oxygen offers much higher rates of oxygen transfer and COD destruction than conventionally aerated systems.
Air Products' Oxy-Dep processes have been developed to use oxygen in the activated sludge process (ASP) in the most efficient manner. The use of Oxy-Dep oxygen, or oxygen-air hybrid processes has massively increased the capacity of ASP´s for contaminant removal.