MBR and Sludge glossary (C)

CA
Cellulose acetate

Cake
Concentrated product from dewatering

Cake compressibility
Extent to which a filter cake compresses with applied pressure

Calorific content or value
Latent energy of a material, normally expressed in units of mega-Joules or kWh per unit mass of material

CAPEX
Capital expenditure

Carbonisation
Low-temperature thermochemical treatment in the presence of water and absence of air favouring the formation of hydrochar as the primary product

CAS(P)
Conventional activated sludge (process/plant)

CEB
Chemically-enhanced backwash

Centrate
Diluted (water) stream from centrifugal sludge separation operations

Centrifugal dewatering CD
Sludge dewatering by using centrifugal forces to separate solids of higher density than water

Centrifugal thickening CT
Sludge consolidation by using centrifugal forces to separate solids of higher density than water

CF(V)
Crossflow (velocity)

CFU
Colony forming units

CIA
Cleaning in air

CIL
Cleaning in line

CIP
Cleaning in place

Circulating fluidised bed (CFB)
Reactor configuration used in thermochemical treatment based on a recirculating bed of sand fluidised by upward-flowing air

Co-disposal
Disposal through combination with some other waste product(s)

Coagulant
Inorganic/mineral chemical used to carry out coagulation

Coagulation
Aggregation or agglomeration of suspended solids to form larger particles (aggregates or flocs) through destabilisation of the particles using inorganic/mineral chemicals

COD
Chemical oxygen demand

Colloid
Particles or macromolecules in the sub-0.1 µm size range

Colloidal
Colloid-like properties

Combined heat and power (CHP)
Engines used to generate usable electrical and thermal energy from a heat source

Combustion
Alternative term for 'incineration'

Composting
Aerobic digestion process, based on natural recirculation of air under ambient conditions

Conditioning
Use of chemicals or heat to make sludge more dewaterable or biologically treatable

Conduction (or direct) dryer
Dryer using externally-heated surfaces to dry the sludge particles

Consolidated/consolidation
Increased solids concentration

Continuous stirred tank reactor CSTR
Reactor design widely used in the activated sludge process where mass transport is promoted evenly throughout the reactor volume by mixing

Convective (or indirect) dryer
Dryer using heated air or steam to dry the sludge particles directly

Conventional activated sludge (CAS)
Classical, widely-employed process for aerobic wastewater treatment

COP
Clean out of place

CP
Concentration polarisation

CPR
Chemical phosphorus removal

CST
Capillary suction time

CT
Capillary tube