Sekundäraminen
Sekundäraminen is a concept originating from German, often translated as secondary sedimentation or secondary settling. It refers to the process by which suspended solids settle out of a liquid in a secondary stage of treatment, typically in wastewater treatment plants. After primary sedimentation, where larger solids are removed, the liquid still contains finer suspended particles. Sekundäraminen is the mechanism by which these finer particles are allowed to settle to the bottom of a settling tank, often called a secondary clarifier. This settling is driven by gravity and is facilitated by the biological activity in the secondary treatment stage, which often converts dissolved and suspended organic matter into larger, more settleable flocs. The settled material, known as secondary sludge, is then removed. The effectiveness of sekundäraminen is crucial for producing a clear effluent with reduced suspended solids. Factors influencing the rate and efficiency of this process include the design of the clarifier, the flow rate of the liquid, and the characteristics of the suspended solids, such as their size, density, and tendency to aggregate. In essence, sekundäraminen is a vital step in purifying water by removing residual suspended matter through gravitational settling after initial treatment.