Abstract: Waste water is disposed in a flocculation mixing tank 1, an anaerobic tank 2 and an aerobic tank 3 connected in series. First, a dephosphorization flocculating agent and, if necessary, a polymeric flocculating agent are added to waste water in order to produce and grow phosphorus-containing flocs therein. Then, to the water is added a recycling solution from an aerobic tank 3, said solution containing nitrates and nitrites. The mixture water is charged in an anaerobic tank 2 until microbially decomposable components (herein referred to BOD components), nitrates and nitrites are anaerobically and microbially decomposed and gas is produced. In the aerobic tank 3 is charged a supernatant solution from the anaerobic tank 2, said solution containing ammonium compound and BOD components, to nitrates, nitrites and CO.sub.2. At least a part of supernatant solution containing the nitrates and nitrites is recycled to the anaerobic tank 2. Solids discharged from the anaerobic tank 2 and the aerobic tank 3 are wasted.

Abstract: Waste water is disposed in a flocculation mixing tank 1, an anaerobic tank 2 and an aerobic tank 3 connected in series. First, a dephosphorization flocculating agent and, if necessary, a polymeric flocculating agent are added to waste water in order to produce and grow phosphorus-containing flocs therein. Then, to the water is added a recycling solution from an aerobic tank 3, said solution containing nitrates and nitrites. The mixture water is charged in an anaerobic tank 2 until microbially decomposable components (herein referred to BOD components), nitrates and nitrites are anaerobically and microbially decomposed and gas is produced. In the aerobic tank 3 is charged a supernatant solution from the anaerobic tank 2, said solution containing ammonium compound and BOD components, to nitrates, nitrites and CO.sub.2. At least a part of supernatant solution containing the nitrates and nitrites is recycled to the anaerobic tank 2. Solids discharged from the anaerobic tank 2 and the aerobic tank 3 are wasted.

Abstract: A sample flow, including a plurality of components which have different types of spectra and are subjected to flocculation, is irradiated with a light of beam including two or more wavelengths. The transmitted light beam is received by a photoelectric converting device, and electric signals corresponding to respective wavelengths of the transmitted light beam are obtained. The correlation coefficient between the electric signal is calculated, from which the flocculation process of the sample flow with regard to the elapsed time can be easily and quickly detected.