Final answer:
In an activated sludge tank, organic matter is oxidized, adsorbed to floc, and incorporated into microbial cells as part of the wastewater treatment process, which includes microbial decomposition and nutrient absorption.
Step-by-step explanation:
While wastewater is in an activated sludge tank, much of the organic matter is oxidized, adsorbed to the floc, and incorporated into microbial cells. In the activated sludge process, aerobic bacteria and other microorganisms decompose organic material and absorb nutrients. These microbes form particles, or flocs, which facilitate the removal of organics from the water as they settle out in the secondary clarifier. This creates a cycle where most of the sludge is returned to the aeration tank to further treat incoming wastewater while the excess is moved to solids processing facilities. During this phase, digestion and potentially additional methods are used to reduce volume and treat the sludge before its ultimate disposal or use as fertilizer, following stringent testing for contaminants.