What does the process of aerobic digestion primarily target?

The process of aerobic digestion primarily targets organic matter degradation. In aerobic digestion, microorganisms, such as bacteria, utilize oxygen to break down organic materials present in wastewater. This biological process converts complex organic compounds into simpler substances, ultimately reducing the overall organic load and transforming it into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.

By focusing on the breakdown of organic matter, aerobic digestion effectively stabilizes the sludge and reduces its volume, which is essential in wastewater treatment as it prepares the material for further treatment or disposal. This process also leads to the production of a stabilized effluent that is much less harmful to the environment.

While pathogen removal is indeed a benefit of aerobic digestion, especially as the organic matter is broken down, the primary function of aerobic digestion is the degradation of organic matter itself. Inorganic solid separation and filtration processes, on the other hand, are distinct operations that do not directly relate to the biological breakdown of organic substances, making them less relevant to this specific process.