biomass retention

Biomass retention refers to the process of maintaining a stable population of microorganisms within a biological treatment system, such as a wastewater plant. These microorganisms break down organic matter, removing pollutants. Retention ensures that a sufficient number of microbes remain active over time, despite the flow of wastewater. This is achieved through design features like settled sludge or biofilm carriers, which help hold the biomass in the system. Proper biomass retention improves treatment efficiency, stability, and allows the system to effectively handle variations in the amount of waste being processed.