aerointia

Aerointia is the Finnish term for the process of aeration, the act of introducing air into a substance to increase its oxygen content and promote chemical or biological processes. In Finnish science and industry, aerointia is used in water treatment, agriculture, fermentation, and waste management. It serves to support aerobic organisms, accelerate oxidation reactions, and prevent anaerobic conditions that cause odors or souring.

Common methods include diffused-air aeration using porous membranes or stones; mechanical agitation such as stirring or pumping; spray or trickle aeration; and airlift or jet aeration. Applications include wastewater treatment (activated sludge, aerated lagoons), groundwater and surface water treatment, composting, soil aeration to improve root respiration and microbial balance, greenhouses and hydroponics, and beverage or food processing where oxygen promotes fermentation or flavor development.

Considerations include energy use and cost, control of dissolved oxygen levels (DO) and mixing, potential for shear damage or foaming, risk of oxidation of sensitive compounds and flavor changes, and contamination of air streams. In environmental engineering, aerointia is often quantified by the kLa value (volume transfer coefficient) and oxygen transfer efficiency.