Which process is primarily responsible for the removal of organic matter in wastewater treatment?

The activated sludge process is primarily responsible for the removal of organic matter in wastewater treatment because it utilizes microorganisms to degrade organic pollutants. In this process, wastewater is aerated in a tank, providing an environment conducive to the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that consume organic matter as their food source. As these microorganisms metabolize the organic materials, they produce new biomass and carbon dioxide, effectively reducing the concentration of organic contaminants in the effluent.

This process is also beneficial because it allows for the development of a microbial community that can efficiently break down a wide variety of organic compounds, making it effective for diverse wastewater compositions. The aeration promotes the growth of these microorganisms, which then flocculate and can be separated from treated water through subsequent settling processes or filtration.

Other methods such as filtration, disinfection, and settling have important roles in the overall wastewater treatment process but are not specifically geared towards the biological degradation of organic matter. For instance, filtration primarily removes solids from wastewater, disinfection targets pathogens, and settling aids in the separation of suspended solids but does not actively reduce organic material in the way that activated sludge does.