Palm oil refinery wastes treatment

Effluent from the refining of crude palm oil was subjected to physical-chemical and biological treatment. An inclined corrugated parallel plates oil separator spaced at 25 mm was used with hydraulic loading rates of 0.2, 0.5 and 1 m³ m⁻²-h. 91% oil and grease removal could be achieved at 0.2 m³ m⁻²-h. Coagulation and flocculation carried out on batch samples after oil and grease separation revealed that with 100 mg l⁻¹ alum addition BOD was reduced from 3500 to 450 mg l⁻¹ and COD from 8600 to 750 mg l⁻¹ after 30 min settling. Higher doses of alum and doses of polyelectrolyte, activated carbon and sodium hypochloride did not yield significant additional reductions in BOD and COD. Batch dissolved air flotation (DAF) removed 90% of the suspended solids with 2.7% solids in the thickened sludge at an A/S ratio of 0.014. This method yielded the similar effluent quality as the inclined corrugated plates oil and grease separator. Field data from a DAF plant compare closely with data achieved in this study. Activated sludge treatment on the effluent from the oil separator yielded a BOD of 46 mg l⁻¹ with a loading rate of 0.3 g BOD (g MLVSS)⁻¹-day. Total dissolved solids (TDS) remained high and removal through coagulation and chemical oxidation brought the COD level down to around 180 mg l⁻¹. Biokinetic coefficients Y, k_dK and K₃ were found to be 0.85 g VSS (g BOD)⁻¹, 0.016 day⁻¹, 0.12 g BOD (g VSS)⁻¹-day and 510 mg l⁻¹ BOD respectively.     

Investigation to replace the conventional sedimentation tank by a microstrainer in the rotating disc system

The function of the microstrainer in removing suspended solids from the effluent of the rotating disc system was studied. Furthermore the SS removal efficiency of the microstrainer was compared with that of the conventional sedimentation tank. It was found that in connection with the complete biological treatment in the rotating disc system, the microstrainer was more efficient in removing suspended solids than the conventional sedimentation tank, and that under the dry-weather-flow condition an effluent SS concentration of 10 mg 1⁻¹ could be obtained with the microstrainer at a surface loading rate of 10–15 m h⁻¹.     

The treatment of leachates from domestic wastes in landfills—I: Aerobic biological treatment of a medium-strength leachate

A medium-strength leachate from domestic solid wastes in a landfill (COD 5000 mg l⁻¹, BOD 3000 mg l⁻¹ was treated using aerobic biological processes in continuous-flow, laboratory-scale reactors at low temperatures. Each unit was completely mixed, and mixed liquor was wasted such that solids retention time (SRT) was equal to the hydraulic retention period.At 10 C with addition of phosphate (COD:P less than 100:1) SRT values of 10 days were required to obtained well-clarified effluents, and high removal of BOD (>;98%) and COD (>;92%). Reduction of temperature to 5°C resulted in adverse effects on settling of sludges from units with SRT values of less than 10 days, but in other units good removal of organic materials could still be obtained. These units operated successfully with concentrations of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) of 1450 mg l⁻¹, equivalent to a ratio of F/M of 0.21 kg BOD kg⁻¹ MLVSS day⁻¹ or less. Removal of ammoniacal nitrogen which took place (influent concentration 80 mg l⁻¹ as N) resulted from incorporation in biomass, and at SRT values of 10 days no nitrification took place at 5 or 10 C. Higher concentrations of ammonia in influent leachates resulted in ammonia in effluents when the ratio of BOD:N was less than about 100:3.6. Increasing the SRT of units to 20 days resulted in erratic conversion to nitrite, but reduced pH-values and possible simultaneous denitrification caused floating sludges and poorly-clarified effluents. Removal of ammonia is identified as a major problem when treating leachates, and further research is recommended.     

A pilot-plant scale evaluation of potential precipitants in the secondary precipitation process

Chemical precipitation of presettled domestic wastewater (secondary precipitation) was studied in three pilot-plants operating in parallel with alum, ferric iron and lime as precipitants. With all precipitants phosphates were effectively removed down to less than 0·1 mg P l⁻¹. Total phosphorus removals were closely connected to the settling properties of the flocs. The factor that seemed to influence settling properties most was pH. In a favourable pH-range it was possible to achieve total phosphorus concentrations in the effluent of less than 0·5 mg P l⁻¹. The COD removal was at an average 70, 60 and 55% with alum, ferric iron and lime as precipitants.     

High-rate overland flow

Recommended loading rates for treating raw domestic wastewater by overland flow are 6.3–15 cm wk⁻¹. Information provided in the literature yields little insight regarding the upper range of hydraulic loading rates that could be effectively treated by overland flow. Therefore, field investigations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the overland flow system at overland flow rates from 0.95 m³ day⁻¹ m⁻¹ width of slope (13 cm wk⁻¹ to 4.15 m³ day⁻¹ m⁻¹ (57 cm wk⁻¹).Preliminary treated municipal wastewater was pumped to overland flow slopes, each approx. 3.7 m wide and 36.5 m long. The slope of each plot was 2.5%. The cover crop consisted of a mixture of ryegrass, bluegrass and fescue grass. The plots were operated for 2 years at six different hydraulic loading rates.Effluent BOD₅ concentration averages varied from 6 to 11 mg l⁻¹. The reduction of influent BOD₅ concentration ranged from 87 to 93%. Mean effluent suspended solids values were from 6 to 9 mg l⁻¹ with reductions of influent concentrations of 91–95%. Hydraulic application rate had little effect on percent BOD₅ or suspended solids removal.Total phosphorus reductions were minimal at all hydraulic application rates due to limited soil water contact.Ammonia concentration in the effluent ranged from 1 mg l⁻¹ NH₃-N at the 0.95 m³ day⁻¹ m⁻¹ (13 cm wk⁻¹) applied flow rate of 11.7 mg l⁻¹ NH₃-N at the 4.15 m³ day⁻¹ m⁻¹ (57 cm wk⁻¹) loading rate. Ammonia and nitrogen reductions decreased as the applied flow rate increased. Consequently, lower overland flow rates are necessary for nitrogen removal.The use of high-rate overland flow could potentially reduce the land necessary for this form of land application, if nutrient removal was not a local concern.     

Removal of zeolite type a during primary sedimentation and its effect on metal removal

Using two pilot plants operated in parallel, treating settled sewage the removal of the detergent builder zeolite type A during primary sedimentation has been studied. With one zeolite free pilot plant acting as a control to the other it was also possible to determine the effect of zeolite on suspended solids and heavy metal removal over a range of hydraulic loadings. At both influent concentrations of zeolite studied (30 and 60 mg l⁻¹) zeolite removal was substantial under all conditions. No evidence of enhanced removal of suspended solids in the presence of zeolite was observed. Removals of lead, zinc, copper and chromium were slightly enhanced in some experiments. The observed improvements in metal removal appeared to be strongly influenced by the sewage matrix.     

Batch coagulation of a lagoon for fecal coliform reductions

The research examined the factors affecting fecal coliform removal from lagoon wastewater by batch treatment with aluminum sulphate. Laboratory experiments based on factorial designs and jar tests were used to determine the statistically significant factors controlling the removal of fecal coliform bacteria. Temperature, chemical dose, pH, rapid mixing and flocculation were examined at two different laboratory scales. The results indicated that alum dose and pH were the only significant parameters. A design chart was developed for the wastewater tested enabling dose determination for a desired fecal coliform reduction. This chart was used to select the dose for a full scale field trial to reduce fecal coliforms to < 10 per 100 ml. The design dose was 300 mg 1⁻¹ Al₂(SO₄)₃·18 H₂O and a final pH of 6.4 was predicted.The field trial used liquid alum (Al₂(SO₄)₃·14.2 H₂O) delivered by tanker truck and distributed by motor boat. The treatment reduced fecal coliforms by 99.9%, total phosphorus by 97%, total suspended solids (TSS) by 90% and 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD₅) by 35%.The cost of treatment for labour and materials was $CDN 0.07 m⁻³.     

Anaerobic treatment kinetics of palm oil sludge

Treatment of palm oil sludge using the completely-mixed, suspended growth, continuous anaerobic fermentation system was studied in a laboratory scale. Biokinetic coefficients for system with and without solids recycle were evaluated. The treatment systems were effective in the removal of BOD, COD, and volatile suspended solids. The gas production rate averaged around 0.91 g⁻¹ BOD utilized with an energy yield of 20,000 J g⁻¹ BOD utilized for units with _c greater than 25 days. The _c^m, minimum solids retention time, was calculated to be more than 10 days. Measured _c^m was, however, lower than 7 days.     

Role of aquatic plants in wastewater treatment by artificial wetlands

This report describes investigations using artificial wetlands which quantitatively assess the role of each of three higher aquatic plant types, Scirpus validus (bulrush), Phragmites communis (common reed) and Typha latifola (cattail), in the removal of nitrogen (via sequential nitrification-denitrification), BOD and TSS from primary municipal wastewaters. During the period August 1983–December 1984, the mean ammonia concentration of 24.7 mg l⁻¹ in the primary wastewater inflow (hydraulic application rate = 4.7 cm day⁻¹) was reduced to mean effluent levels of 1.4 mg l⁻¹ for the bulrush bed, 5.3 mg l⁻¹ for the reed bed and 17.7 mg l⁻¹ for the cattail bed, as compared to a mean value of 22.1 mg l⁻¹ for the unvegetated (control) bed. For all three vegetated beds, the mean effluent ammonia values were significantly below that for the unvegetated bed and for the inflow. The bulrushes and reeds (in that order) proved to be superior at removing ammonia, both with mean effluent levels significantly below that for the cattail bed. The high ammonia-N (and total N) removal efficiencies shown by the bulrush and reed beds are attributed to the ability of these plants to translocate O₂ from the shoots to the roots. The oxidized rhizosphere so formed stimulates sequential nitrification-denitrification. Similarly BOD removal efficiencies were highest in the bulrush and reed beds, both with mean effluent BOD levels (5.3 and 22.2 mg l⁻¹, respectively) significantly below that for the unvegetated bed (36.4 mg l⁻¹) and equal to or better than secondary treatment quality (30 mg l⁻¹). Our results demonstrate that higher aquatic plants can indeed play a significant role in secondary and advanced (N removal) wastewater treatment by wetland systems, a role that is completely distinct from that associated with their pollutant uptake capacity.     

Direct analytical procedure for determination of volatile organic acids in raw municipal wastewater

A direct analytical method for identification and determination of the individual volatile acids in raw sewage was developed. The proposed procedure is rapid, omitting tedious sample pretreatment and thus avoiding possible losses involved in steam distillation, evaporation or extraction. It consists of direct injection of raw sewage into a gas chromatograph, including Carbowax 20 M on acid washed Chromosorb W column and a flame ionization detector. Sample preparation is confined to addition of solid metaphosphoric acid to the raw sewage, and removal of precipitated proteins and suspended solids by centrifugation.The direct injection method proved to be practicable, accurate and rapid. Volatile acids content in raw municipal sewage in Haifa, Israel, was found to be in the range of 150–160 mg l⁻¹, of which 120–125 mg l⁻¹ was acetic acid, 30–33 mg l⁻¹ propionic acid, 6–8 mg l⁻¹ butyric acid, 2 mg l⁻¹ isovaleric acid, and 0.5–1 mg l⁻¹ valeric acid.     

Colour and turbidity removal with reusable magnetite particles—VI: Pilot plant operation

A novel process which utilizes fine magnetite particles for the removal of colour and turbidity from water has been tested in a 60 1 min⁻¹ pilot plant on water from an unconfined aquifer in Perth, Western Australia. The performance of the pilot plant closely matched jar test results. The process design was optimized to achieve a high quality product water on a raw feed which was difficult to treat in the conventional alum coagulation and filtration plant. A comparison of the conventional and magnetite treatment systems is made, which shows that the magnetite process is viable as an alternative water treatment technique.     

Enhanced uptake of phosphorus by activated sludge-effect of substrate addition

Studies were undertaken to examine the effect of substrate addition upon the release and subsequent uptake of phosphorous by a biological wastewater treatment laboratory scale system.A train of six reactors were fed at a rate of 16 ml min⁻¹ raw wastewater using a sludge recycle ratio of 0.75 (12 ml min⁻¹). The first two reactors were simply stirred (anoxic) without the addition of air and the remaining four were aerated with excess air.Various substrates were added to the first reactor (anoxic) at different concentrations. It was determined that all the short chain substrates tested enhanced the release of phosphorus in the anoxic stages and subsequently led to increased biological uptake (removal) of phosphorus. The substrates tested included sodium acetate, acetic acid, butyric acid, ethanol and methanol.It was determined that 30 mg l⁻¹ sodium acetate was the optimum dose for biological release and uptake of phosphorus and the addition of any greater concentration had marginal effect on the ultimate removal of phosphorus.The effect of these substrates showed some specificity regarding phosphorus release, with butyric acid causing the greatest release and sodium acetate the least. However as far as phosphorus uptake (removal) was concerned, this phenomenon of substrate-specificity was less significant. For all substrates, effluent phosphorus concentration was within ± 1 mg l⁻¹ with an approximate mean concentration of 1 mg l⁻¹ residual.Phosphorus released (approx. 14 mg l⁻¹) at higher temperature (29°C) was 75% greater than at the lower temperature (24°C). Similarly the final residual phosphorus at 29°C was 33% lower than at 24°C.     

The removal of virus by a pilot treatment plant

The effect of a pilot water treatment plant upon naturally occurring and artificially high levels of bacteriophages and enteroviruses was investigated. The individual stages studied were flocculation and sedimentation, rapid sand filtration, an activated carbon column and a final chlorination stage. The flocculation and sedimentation unit was consistently effective with an average removal of 99.7 ± 0.3%. The efficiency of the rapid sand filter and the activated carbon column was dependent upon the frequency of back-washing. Both of these units were less effective when recently back-washed and in such cases their percentage removal was negligible when compared with the flocculation and sedimentation unit. The final chlorination unit was found to be very effective, and viruses could not be isolated after this stage provided that a residual free chlorine concentration of 0.4 mg l⁻¹ was maintained.Examination of the data for the plant as a whole revealed that it was capable of removing greater than 99.9995% of any influent viruses.     

Aerobic stabilization of primary and mixed primary-chemical (alum) sludge

This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using aerobic digestion as a method for the stabilization of mixed primary-chemical (alum) sludge from a physical-chemical treatment plant. Aerobic digestion was carried out in “continuous” flow (batch fed once a day) laboratory reactors with detention times ranging from 5 to 35 days held at 7, 12, 18 and 25°C.Temperature was found to have a slightly greater influence on the reduction of volatile suspended solids in primary sludge than in mixed primary-chemical sludge. Nitrification took place in the reactors treating both primary and mixed primary-chemical sludge. The high content of aluminum in the mixed primary-chemical sludge did not inhibit the nitrifiers. The oxygen-uptake rate varied between approximately 5 mg O₂ g⁻¹ VSS h⁻¹ and 1 mg O₂ g⁻¹ VSS h⁻¹ depending on the detention time and the reactor temperature. Adenosine triphosphate content per unit volatile suspended solids indicated a low content of active biomass during aerobic digestion.     

Removal of organics from leachates by anaerobic filter

A laboratory-scale study was conducted on two anaerobic filters at several loading rates and four hydraulic detention times. Feed substrates were landfill leachates taken from a recently opened landfill (Keele Valley) and from an older site (Brock North) which had been closed for about 8 years. The strong raw leachate from the new landfill had a COD of 14,000 mg l⁻¹, a BOD/COD ratio of 0.7 and a COD/P value of 17,900. The partially stabilized leachate from the older landfill had a COD of only 3750 mg l⁻¹, a BOD/COD ratio of 0.3 and a COD/P value of 30,640.Results from the treatment of the two leachates were compared with those from a previous study of a “mature” landfill (Beare Road). It was demonstrated that the anaerobic filter could reduce the COD of leachate from landfills of different ages by 90%, at loading rates of 1.26–1.45 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹. Total biogas production ranged between 400 and 500 l gas kg⁻¹ COD destroyed and methane content between 75 and 85%. No phosphorus addition was required over the loading range studied.     

Treatment of low strength domestic wastewater using the anaerobic filter

A laboratory scale anaerobic filter packed with synthetic high surface area trickling filter media was used to treat a low strength domestic wastewater averaging 288 mg 1⁻¹ COD. The filter was operated for 60 days after reaching steady-state at 20, 25, 35°C at a loading rate of 0.02 lb COD ft⁻³ day⁻¹ and 24 h hydraulic retention time. Filter effluent BOD₅ averaged 38 mg 1⁻¹ providing an average removal rate of 79%, and effluent COD averaged 78 mg 1⁻¹, corresponding to a 73% removal rate. Removal efficiencies showed very little sensitivity to daily fluctuations in influent wastewater quality. The filter performance at 25 and 35°C was not significantly different, but BOD and TSS removal efficiency declined a: 20°C. Gas production averaged 0.027 ft⁻³ of gas per ft³ of influent wastewater, or 1.875 ft³ of gas per pound of influent COD. Gas composition averaged 30% nitrogen, 65% methane, and 5% carbon dioxide. Ammonia nitrogen and sulfides both increased during treatment. It is concluded that the anaerobic filter is a promising candidate for treatment of low strength wastewaters and that post treatment for sulfides and ammonia may be necessary.     

A microbial sensor for BOD

A microbial amperometric sensor for the determination of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) determination using Trichosporon cutaneum cells immobilized in polyvinylalcohol has been developed. This sensor allowed BOD measurement with very short response times (< 30 s), an operation stability of 48 days and a serial coefficient of variation of ±3.3% when a sample solution containing 22 mg l⁻¹ BOD was employed. A linear range was obtained up to 100 mg l⁻¹ BOD using a glucose/glutamic acid standard. The sensitivity and specificity was increased by incubation of the BOD sensor with the respective wastewater. Comparable results were obtained for BOD values estimated by the biosensor and those determined by the 5-day method.     

Coliform and chemical oxygen demand removal from meatworks effluents by different treatment processes

Raw effluents from meatworks were found to have high levels of bacterial contamination, comparable to those found in domestic sewage. Counts of 4 × 10⁷ ml⁻¹ for total aerobes and 10⁷ ml⁻¹ for total coliforms were obtained. Four effluent treatment processes were examined for effectiveness of removal of bacteria, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS). Lagoon and activated sludge systems were the most efficient, followed by physico-chemical treatment and lastly by high-rate trickling filtration. Both the lagoon and activated sludge systems achieved large reductions in total coliform counts, usually by factors of between 10³ and 10⁴. The effluents from both these systems nearly met normal discharge requirements for COD and SS, but the bacteriological quality was still poor.     

The effects of geology and land use on the export of phosphorus from watersheds

The export of total phosphorus from 34 watersheds in Southern Ontario was measured over a 20-month period. The annual average export for igneous watersheds (i.e. those of the Canadian Shield) that were forested was 4.8 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹, significantly different from the average (11.0 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹) for watersheds that included pasture as well as forest. Similarly, on sedimentary rock, the mean export from forested watersheds (10.7 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹) differed significantly from those with forest and pasture (28.8 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹). The differences between watersheds of different geology but similar land use were also highly significant.Additional data from the literature supported our conclusions. Other forested igneous watersheds of plutonic origin averaged 4.2 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹ of total phosphorus exported: forested igneous watersheds of volcanic origin, however, averaged 72 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹. The overall average export from each type of watershed as classified by geology and land use was very similar to that for the same classification found in our study.The effects of agriculture and urbanization were to greatly increase the total phosphorus exported. Wide ranges of values probably reflect the intensity of land use.     

The effects of the COD:P ratio on laboratory activated sludge systems

Laboratory activated sludge systems were operated at various COD:P ratios to study the effects of the influent phosphorus concentration on COD removal efficiency, cellular phosphorus, carbohydrate and protein contents, and alkaline phosphatase activity. In varying the COD:P ratio, the COD was held constant at 1000 mg l⁻¹ and phosphorus concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 20, 35 and 50 mg l⁻¹ were used. The optimum COD:P ratio for this study was found to be 100:1. Increasing the phosphorus concentration in the influent above one percent of the influent COD did not provide for an increase in the COD removal nor for significant changes in the cellular protein and carbohydrate content or the alkaline phosphatase activity.