<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The important factors that strongly influence the particle size distributions measured by the laser diffraction method are the optical parameters of the suspension (refractive index and absorption coefficient). Knowledge of the values of these parameters is necessary for Mie theory. Mie theory is applied for conversion of the intensity of light recorded on detectors into particle size distribution (PSD) of tested material. Both wastewater and activated sludge are mixtures of a variety of elements (mineral or organic, including living organisms). In practice, it is not possible to define clearly the values of the optical parameters, as the composition of the suspension changes over time. The aim of the study was to estimate the impact of assumed values of the optical parameters on particle size distributions obtained. The PSDs of suspensions sampled in different stages of wastewater treatment are the most reproducible when the following optical parameters are defined: absorption coefficients - 1.0 and the refractive index - 1.52.</p></abstract>

The important factors that strongly influence the particle size distributions measured by the laser diffraction method are the optical parameters of the suspension (refractive index and absorption coefficient). Knowledge of the values of these parameters is necessary for Mie theory. Mie theory is applied for conversion of the intensity of light recorded on detectors into particle size distribution (PSD) of tested material. Both wastewater and activated sludge are mixtures of a variety of elements (mineral or organic, including living organisms). In practice, it is not possible to define clearly the values of the optical parameters, as the composition of the suspension changes over time. The aim of the study was to estimate the impact of assumed values of the optical parameters on particle size distributions obtained. The PSDs of suspensions sampled in different stages of wastewater treatment are the most reproducible when the following optical parameters are defined: absorption coefficients - 1.0 and the refractive index - 1.52.

Impact of optical indices on particle size distribution of activated sludge measured by laser diffraction method

Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland, phone +48 81 744 50 61, fax +48 81 744 50 67

Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, ul. Nadbystrzycka 40B, 20-618 Lublin, Poland, phone +48 81 538 43 22

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The important factors that strongly influence the particle size distributions measured by the laser diffraction method are the optical parameters of the...

Impact of optical indices on particle size distribution of activated sludge measured by laser diffraction method

Published Online: Apr 09, 2014

Page range: 137 - 145

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eces-2014-0012

Keywords
laser diffraction method (LDM), particle size distribution (PSD), wastewater, activated sludge, Mie theory, optical parameters

© by Agata Sochan

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Impact of optical indices on particle size distribution of activated sludge measured by laser diffraction method

Published Online: Apr 09, 2014

Page range: 137 - 145

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eces-2014-0012

Keywordslaser diffraction method (LDM), particle size distribution (PSD), wastewater, activated sludge, Mie theory, optical parameters

© by Agata Sochan

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
laser diffraction method (LDM), particle size distribution (PSD), wastewater, activated sludge, Mie theory, optical parameters