Water-soluble synthetic polymers, which include polyacrylic acid, are nowadays added to practically all different cosmetic products and many other products as well. Due to inadequate definitions in legislation, their use is neither monitored nor restricted. As a result, large quantities of these substances are discharged along with wastewater into treatment plants, where they come into contact with the activated sludge. In the scope of the diploma thesis, we investigated the effects of polyacrylic acid on the activity of microorganisms in activated sludge, the ability to remove nutrients and organic substances, and technological parameters. The results showed that a high concentration of polyacrylic acid can lead to a decrease in pH and that a low concentration has a negative effect on the settleability of the activated sludge. According to our results, the presence of polyacrylic acid has no influence on the concentration of activated sludge and its effectiveness. However, it reduces the activity of microorganisms and inhibits the processes of nitrification and phosphorus removal. Due to the observed negative effects on the activated sludge, even at low concentrations of the added polymer, further research is more than necessary.
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