Abstract
The performance of an aerated vertical upward-flow electric arc furnace slag filter (VFEAFS) system in treating domestic wastewater was examined in a warm-climate country temperature. Two pilot scale column experiments were conducted at high (2.72 m3/m3.day) and low (1.04 m3/m3.day) hydraulic loading rate (HLR) set-up and the effect of different hydraulic loading levels on pollutant removal efficiency were studied. Aeration was introduced in the filter system at 10 L/min to observe oxygen distribution concentration towards ammonium nitrogen removal. The results demonstrated that both HLR set-up were capable to achieve more than 90% ammonium nitrogen (AN) removal; however, in terms of individual efficiency of the filter system, the VFEAFS of lower HLR performed better in comparison to the higher HLR set-up. The average effluent concentration of AN by both systems were found far below standard A of Malaysian sewage discharge limit (10 mg NH4-N/L). The results achieved in this pilot scale study indicate that removal of ammonium nitrogen in the aerated VFEAFS was explained by nitrification process, and this treatment system could be implemented to the other industry-environmental, municipal or residential wastewater.
Highlights
Nitrogen compounds are necessity nutrients for all types of life, and known as one of the principal pollutant in wastewater that can cause eutrophication when present in substantial quantities, causing in extreme growth of algae and other microorganisms in recipient waters such as lakes and rivers, as well as reduced dissolved oxygen concentration and toxicity to aquatic organisms [1]
Organic nitrogen can be existed in urea, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and uric acids [2]
The pilot scale of aerated vertical upward-flow of electric arc furnace slag (VFEAFS) filter systems were constructed from 10-mm thick polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe of 0.3 m diameter by 2.0 m high; allowing wastewater to flow at 1.5 m deep; leaving 0.5 m free space to hinder algae growth was filled with the entirely electric arc furnace slag of high Ca composition and placed at Taman Bukit Perdana wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), situated in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Summary
Nitrogen compounds are necessity nutrients for all types of life, and known as one of the principal pollutant in wastewater that can cause eutrophication when present in substantial quantities, causing in extreme growth of algae and other microorganisms in recipient waters such as lakes and rivers, as well as reduced dissolved oxygen concentration and toxicity to aquatic organisms [1]. The present study was initiated to examine the performance of pilotscale of vertical upward-flow of aerated RF system in removing ammonium nitrogen from domestic wastewater using electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) as the filter medium. Treatment plant (WWTP) grit tank, together with the proposed system; proposed primary tank (PPT) and aerated vertical upwardflow of electric arc furnace slag (VFEAFS) systems have shown to be a good low-cost technology for the purpose of treating municipal wastewater, in removing ammonium nitrogen. The research described here concerns the removal of ammonium nitrogen from wastewater treatment plant influent using an efficient and low maintenance of aerated vertical upward-flow of electric arc furnace slag (VFEAFS) filter system. Where, Cin is the mean value of inflow concentration (mg/L) and Cout is the mean value of outflow concentration (mg/L)
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