Processing Plant Wastewater Research Articles

Excellent treatment effect of actual wastewater from a pesticide plant using electro-Fenton process catalyzed by natural pyrite

The experiment used natural pyrite as catalyst for electro-Fenton process to treat actual wastewater containing high concentrations of chlorine salts from a pesticide factory in Guangdong province, China. It revealed that under the optimized conditions of initial pH of 3, electrode spacing of 4 cm, and current density of 40 mA/cm2, excellent treatment effect was achieved using 3 g/L pyrite as catalyst with graphite cathode and Ti/RuO2-IrO2-SnO2 anode after a duration of 3 h. Specifically, the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), absorbance at 478 nm (I478), ammonia nitrogen (AN) and total nitrogen (TN) reached 99.1 %, 99.8 %, 98.9 % and 46.0 % respectively, and instantaneous current efficiency (ICE) at 3 h and energy consumption (EC) were 48.16 % and 97 kWh/kgCOD. Pyrite exhibited good reusability, mainly due to its proper dissolution capacity to renew surface active sites. It was speculated that the nitrogen removal of pesticide wastewater might mainly owe to the oxidation of NH4+ by chlorine/hypochlorite which were based on anode discharge reaction of contained Cl−. The electro-Fenton process catalyzed by natural pyrite showed good potential for efficiently treating the actual pesticide processing plant wastewater with high contents of chlorine salts.

Treatment of fish processing plant wastewater using dissolved air flotation and pilot-scale biochar column filtration

Wastewaters from fish processing cause a high organic load for municipal wastewater treatment and can interfere with treatment operations due to their high oil and grease content. In the present study, a modular dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit was used to remove oil, grease and other suspended solids from fish processing plant wastewater. After DAF treatment, the residual particles and nutrients were adsorbed onto a mixture of hemp and spruce biochar in a pilot-scale column filtration system. The proposed integrated treatment process aims to improve the quality of the fish processing wastewater, facilitate water reuse, and recover the dissolved nutrients in a reusable form. The DAF treatment removed nearly all the oil and grease from the wastewater. Also, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity and phosphorus concentration clearly decreased during the DAF process. The biochar filtration further clarified the DAF-treated wastewater and partly adsorbed the residual nutrients. Furthermore, in the spent biochar mixture, the nitrogen and phosphorus content increased significantly (N to 9.1–10.5 mg/g, P to 0.32–1.38 mg/g), which indicates the improved properties of the biochar as a possible soil conditioner.

Bioelectricity production and bioremediation from sugarcane industry wastewater using microbial fuel cells with activated carbon cathodes

Clean energy and water are major challenges to meet for sustainable development. Microbial Fuel Cells or MFCs can treat wastewater with the treatment process becoming a method for capturing energy in the form of bioelectricity. In this work, biomass derived Activated Carbon was used as the MFC cathode with carbon yarn as the brush anode. Sugarcane processing plant wastewater was used to evaluate bioelectricity generation and contamination removal over multiple cycles. System performance was stable, this is attributed to absence of carboxylic acid functional group on cathode surface and the sufficiently developed bacteria biofilm on the anode. The reactors used were able to facilitate organic matter degradation continually. MFC reactors developed open circuit voltage of 870 ± 20 mV, and power density of 563 ± 30 mW/m2 with external resistors, having current density of 0.79 mA/m2. The chemical contamination of the wastewater was reduced from 1201 ± 60 mg/l to 240 ± 31 mg/l with average removal of 81%, with BOD removal efficiency of 86%. The utility of biomass derived Activated Carbon as a cathode material was evaluated with BET analysis, having a surface area of 230.131 m2/g for oxygen reduction. Surface feature includes distinct mesoporous structures for the growth of heterotrophs. Additionally, FTIR analysis of cathodes revealed the presence of heteroatoms on the carbon matrix which adds stability to its surface chemistry. This makes the cathode surface suitable for operation in real time conditions without corroding metal mesh collectors on which they are coated.

BIOREMEDIATION OF SEAFOOD PROCESSING PLANT EFFLUENT: COLLECTION AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF EFFLUENT

Microorganism bioremediation of seafood processing plant wastewater is a viable alternative to the traditional effluent treatment technique of recovery and removal. Five seafood processing plants in and around Veraval were sampled for waste water. This water was transported to lab in controlled condition and were analysed for eutrophic component present and BOD, COD value evaluation. Soil samples from the same places were collected for bacterial isolation. From them over 40 bacterial strains were collected from five different seafood processing industry soil samples near Veraval.

Water recovery from pistachio processing plant wastewater using subcritical water oxidation method

This study aims to apply an efficient and environmentally friendly subcritical water oxidation (SWO) method for the treatment of pistachio processing plant wastewater (PPPW). The effects of temperature (336.2–399.8 K), the concentration of H2O2 (0.08–0.92 M) and treatment time (6.4–73.6 min) on the oxidation of PPPW were investigated using the SWO method and experimental parameters were optimized using the response surface method. While the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was obtained as 53.8% in 73.6 min at 373 K using 0.5 M of H2O2, the highest obtained total phenol (TP) and color removals were 92.80%, and 99.6%, respectively, in 20 min at 373 K using 0.75 M of H2O2. R 2 values of COD, TP and color removal models were 0.9694, 0.9868 and 0.9649, respectively, and F values of the models were 35.24, 82.86 and 30.54, in the same order. In the vast majority of the experimental samples, the concentrations of nitrate, total phosphate, total nitrogen and suspended solids were found to be decreased while the nitrite concentration was increased after the SWO process. The effectiveness of SWO in water recovery from PPPW was demonstrated by the high, COD, TP and color removal values obtained.

Treatment of combined coffee processing wastewater using constructed wetland/ Cyperus-ustulatus and Typha-latifolia plants process

<p>The research investigated wastewater discharges from wet coffee processing plant (WCPP) combined with tap water (TW) treated by using Cyperus-ustulatus plant (P1), Typha-latifolia plant (P2) wetland. The WCPP wastewater was conducted by different combination (100%WW + 0% TW; 75% WW + 25% TW; 50% WW + 50% TW; 75%WW + 25% TW and 0% WW + 100% TW) after being irrigated for 21 days in the constructed wetland with P1, P2and control (without a plant). The highest value of total solids, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand increases were 76%, 95% and, 96%, respectively, removed wastewater treated by T3 (50% WW + 50% TW) with P2 wetland after 21 days irrigated. As a result, the combination of coffee wastewater with constructed wetland treatment methods was a low-cost, affordable, technically viable and eco-friendly treatment option for the wet coffee processing plant wastewater.</p>

Effect of Wastewater Discharge From Coffee Processing Plant on River Water Quality, Sidama Region, South Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, most of the coffee processing plants are generating large amounts of wastewater with high pollutant concentrations and discharge directly into the water bodies untreated or partially treated. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of coffee wastewater discharged to river water quality using physicochemical parameters and macro-invertebrate indices. This study was conducted from November to the end of December 2019. Ten wastewater and river water samples were taken from coffee the processing plant and river. The macro-invertebrate samples were collected by kick sampling technique using a standard hand net. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were examined at 3 sampling stations. The Pielou evenness index was also determined. It was found that except for TDS all the parameters of the raw wastewater and river water did not comply with the international discharge limit. The mean concentration of Faro coffee processing plant wastewater were BOD5 (2409.6 ± 173.1 mg/L), COD (4302 ± 437 mg/L), TSS (2824.6 ± 428.4 mg/L), TDS (3226 ± 623.6 mg/L), and TS (4183.3 ± 432.9 mg/L). Whereas from Bokaso coffee processing plant were BOD5 (3770 ± 604.4 mg/L), COD (4082.6 ± 921.9 mg/L), TSS (2766 ± 501.7 mg/L), TDS (3017 ± 747.6 mg/L), and TS (3874 ± 471.1 mg/L). A total of 392 macroinvertebrates belonging to 24 families and 7 orders were collected. The benthos assemblage communities in this river were 40, 56, and 296 at downstream 1, downstream 2, and upstream respectively. The value of the Simpson diversity index varies from 0.4 to 0.75. In the same manner, the value of the Shannon diversity index also varied from 0.5 to 1.36. Most of the physicochemical parameters of the raw wastewater were beyond the national and international discharge limits. The quality of Orsha river water downstream was more adversely affected compared to upstream.

Treatment of wet coffee processing plant wastewater by aeration with constructed wetland/Cyperus ustulatus and Typha latifolia plants process

Treatment of wet coffee processing plant wastewater by aeration with constructed wetland/Cyperus ustulatus and Typha latifolia plants process

An Investigation on the Turbidity Removal from Natural Stone Processing Plant Wastewater by Flocculation

This study aimed to determine the effects of three different high molecular weight (HMW) flocculants (anionic, cationic and non-ionicflocculants) on the fine particles removal from natural stone (foid-bearing rock) processing plant wastewater at alkaline pH conditions.The test results were investigated in terms of turbidity values depending on pH of the medium, flocculant concentration and time (0–60min). According to the results obtained, the turbidity values of the wastewater in the absence of the flocculants were pH dependent anddecreased as the pH increased, resulted in the minimum turbidity values at pH 12. In the presence of the flocculants, the pH dependedturbidity removal efficiencies varied with flocculant type, flocculant concentration and time. The best results were obtained at highlyalkaline pH values (pH 12) with the turbidity removal efficiency of ≤99% in the presence of non-ionic flocculant. In the case of anionicand cationic flocculants, the minimum turbidity values were also obtained at pH 12 with turbidity removal efficiencies over 90%.

Assessment of fish scale biosorbent in the treatment of seafood processing plant wastewater

AbstractBACKGROUNDWastewater generated from seafood processing plants poses a serious threat to the draining environments. In addition, huge amount of fish scales are discarded as solid waste from seafood processing plants and fish markets. These biowastes can be used as biosorbent in the treatment of wastewaters. In the present work, waste fish scales were employed as biosorbent in order to explore the adsorption capacity of several pollutant parameters such as nutrients, ammonia, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the treatment of seafood processing plant wastewater. The experiment was carried out as batch work under varying biosorbent dosage levels and contact times.RESULTSThe biosorbent treatment showed >70% removal of nitrite, phosphate and BOD. The ammonia and COD were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced with >95% removal at the end of treatment process. Based on the results, the treatment showed best adsorption at 90 min contact time with a biosorbent dosage of 1 g/100 mL in the removal of BOD, COD and ammonia. Other parameters showed maximum reduction at 180 min contact time. Experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models (R2 values ranging between 0.84 and 0.99). All of the data were statistically tested using SPSS v25 software.CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study showed that waste fish scales can be effectively reused as biosorbent in the treatment of organic pollutants from seafood processing plant wastewater. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)

Evaluation of edible bird’s nest processing plant wastewater quality: a factory case study

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a rapidly growing industry, especially in Southeast Asia. Cleaning raw EBN is an essential process in an EBN processing plant to remove any contaminant and impurities from the end products. However, this process has introduced a potential risk of environmental pollution through the disposal of the wastewater that may contain contaminants from the EBN. This study was conducted to determine the quality of wastewater from the selected EBN processing plant. Water samples were collected from 4 sampling points (SP) and analysed to determine the water quality index (WQI), metal content, nitrite content and microbiological contamination level. The results showed that the wastewater at SP1 and SP2 was classified as clean, while that of SP3 and SP4 was classified as slightly polluted based on the WQI classification. Metal content analysis results showed that only arsenic was found to exceed the permissible level according to the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The total aerobic count was highest in samples from SP4 with an average reading of 4.72 + 0.47 log CFU/mL. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was only found at all samples from SP4 with an average of 3.20 + 0.05 log CFU/mL. No other coliform readings were obtained from all sampling points. Overall, although the general quality of the wastewater was still at a safe level, the high content of arsenic indicated potential risk to the surrounding environment. Management of wastewater must be improved to ensure an environmentally safe and sustainable EBN production industry.

Using Dynamic Light Scattering for Monitoring the Size of the Suspended Particles in Wastewater

Abstract A coherent light scattering experiment on wastewater samples extracted from several stages of water processing within a wastewater processing plant was carried out. The samples were allowed to sediment while they were the subject of a Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurement. The recorded time series were processed using an Artificial Neural Network based DLS procedure to produce the average diameter of the particles in suspension. The method, using a single physical procedure for monitoring the variation of the average diameter in time, indicates the dominant type of suspensions in water.

Sustainable utilization of the sewage sludge using combined drying, torrefaction and plasma gasification technologies

This paper presents complete mass and energy balance of a novel installation for thermal utilization of the sewage sludge. Calculations were performed for the typical output of a wastewater processing plant in a middle size Polish town. Overall, the proposed configuration seems to be advantageous, as the proposed installation is fully sustainable and does not need external energy sources, due to maximized heat recovery from many different sources. Optimization of the heat use is performed, by utilizing all the available heat sources, including low-quality heat, such as the latent heat of water vapors, present in wet air after drying. Despite using plasma gasification system, the installation is able to generate surplus electricity, which can be used as a power source for all of the auxiliary devices, such as fans, augers and PLC systems. The proposed system can be implemented in the water treatment plants, in towns with the total amount of inhabitants ranging from a couple of thousand up to 40 thousand. System does not require anaerobic digestion of the sewage sludge. Nonetheless, the use of anaerobic digestion brings some advantages as the producer gas from the gasification installation can be mixed with biogas.

Recovery of Pd(II), Ir(III) and Rh(III) from aqueous solutions with Brewer’s Yeast-functionalised bentonite

The scarcity of precious elements such as Pd(II), Ir(III) and Rh(III) has been increasing over the years hence, their recovery from wastewaters using efficient and cheap recovery techniques is becoming more important. In this study, the spent yeast collected after brewing was used to functionalise bentonite clay material to obtain very cheap material for recovery. The functionalised bentonite was characterised using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and element analyser. The textural properties of the natural and functionalised bentonite were determined. The effect of adsorbent dosage, pH, concentration, contact time and competing ions on the adsorption of Pd(II), Ir(III) and Rh(III) by yeast-functionalised bentonite was determined. The adsorbent dosage of 10 g L−1 and 360 min were chosen as optimum for this study. The pH of 2 was used since; it is the typical pH of the processing plant wastewater under investigation. The adsorption of Pd(II) and Ir(III) decreased as the pH increased whilst that of Rh(III) increased with pH. The adsorption of Pd(II) increased with concentration and this was attributed to the ability of Pd(II) to adsorb on different active sites of the adsorbent. This was substantiated by the adsorption isotherm study since, the adsorption of Pd(II) onto the adsorbent was best described by the Freundlich isotherm, meaning that the adsorption occurs on different active sites. Beyond 2 mg L−1, the adsorption capacity of Ir(III) and Rh(III) remained the same. In the presence of other ions, Pd(II) adsorption increases due to the synergistic Fe-Pd interaction but, the adsorption of Ir(III) and Rh(III) decreased by 57 and 17%, respectively. Therefore, to significantly recover Ir(III) and Rh(III), the old adsorbent which contains a significant amount of other elements should constantly be replaced by the new one and as other elements decrease, the adsorption of Ir(III) and Rh(III) will increase. The yeast-functionalised bentonite is a potential cheap adsorbent for the adsorption of precious elements.

Coagulation and flocculation behavior of fines in foid-bearing rock processing plant (FRPP) wastewater at alkaline environment

In this study, the effects of two different coagulants with different valence counter-ions; iron (II) sulphate; (FeSO4) and iron (III) chloride (FeCl3), and high molecular weight (HMW) flocculants with three different ionic charges (anionic, cationic and nonionic) on turbidity removal from wastewater of foid-bearing rock processing plant were investigated depending concentration and time (0–60 min) at alkaline pH values (pH 8–12). In addition, the effects of binary coagulant/flocculant and flocculant/flocculant mixtures on turbidity removal were also investigated depending on the time (0–60 min) using previously determined coagulant/flocculant concentrations at natural pH value (pH 8.0 ± 0.1) of the plant wastewater. According to the results, the turbidity removal efficiencies varied depending on pH and time; the highest turbidity removal (≤97%) was obtained with 160 mg/L of FeCl3 at pH 12 while the highest turbidity removal (≤99%) in flocculation processes were obtained with 1.50 mg/L of non-ionic flocculant at the same pH. In the analyses with binary coagulant/flocculant and flocculant/flocculant mixtures at pH 8; the turbidity removal efficiency of ≤99% was obtained with the binary mixtures of 80 mg/L FeCl3 and 0.50 mg/L non-ionic flocculant, and the turbidity removal efficiency of ≤98% was obtained with the binary mixtures of 0.50 mg/L no-ionic flocculant and 0.50 mg/L cationic flocculant.

Electrochemical remediation of chicken processing plant wastewater

Chicken Processing Plant (CPP) produces a large amount of wastewater containing a variety of readily biodegradable organic compounds, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Experiments were conducted on the removal of pollutants from CPP wastewater using electrocoagulation (EC). Two types of EC-reactors with horizontally and vertically arranged sacrificial iron electrodes were used for this purpose. The treatment efficiency of the CPP wastewater using iron sacrificial anode was checked by changing the pH of the mixtures, EC operating time, and the current density. EC was found to be a feasible process for treating the CPP wastewater. The results showed that COD, BOD5, fecal coliform, NH3-N, and oil–grease can be effectively removed by EC. Treatment mechanism was discussed by characterizing EC-floc through XRD, SEM/EDS, and FTIR techniques. The BOD/COD ratio for EC treated CPP was found to be 0.53. The optimal current density was determined as 4 mAcm−2. Vertical electrode assembly was more efficient to treat poultry wastewater than that of horizontal electrode assembly. EC operating time and current density have significant influences for improving removal efficiency.

The effect of chicken blood and its components on wastewater characteristics and sewage surcharges

Local wastewater treatment authorities levy surcharges from their non-residential customers that are based, in part, on the concentration of various pollutants in the customer's wastewater. Blood has long been recognized as the most potent contributor to pollutant loads in chicken processing plant wastewater. Quantification of the impact of blood on wastewater characteristics and sewage surcharges is hindered by lack of information on specific characteristics of chicken blood, and by the highly variable methods used by local authorities for calculating surcharges. In this study, the most commonly used wastewater characteristics are determined for whole chicken blood as well as its individual components. The characteristics measured include biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, fats oil and grease, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, and total phosphorus. Sewage surcharge calculation methods were collected from 71 local wastewater authorities. The results show all components of the blood to be extremely high-strength pollutants. The impact of blood on sewage surcharges is shown to be highly variable depending on the rates applied by the local authority.

Enhancement of concrete properties by waste physicochemical treatment sludge of travertine processing wastewater

Travertine treatment sludges are by-products derived from travertine marble processing plants. These treatment sludges are being generated in considerable amounts in marble production plants in Turkey. Various proportions (5–15% w/w of the cement) of physicochemical sludge admixtures obtained from the physico-chemical treatment (coagulation-flocculation) of a travertine processing plant wastewater were used ascement replacement for concrete with 250 kg/m3 cement dosage. Slump tests were performed on fresh concrete, and compressive strengths were determined for 7 and 28 days hardened concrete samples. The freeze/thaw resistance, water absorption, capillary suction, void ratio and porosity were performed for the hardened concrete samples. Considering the properties of hardened concrete such as compressive strength, workability and physical properties, AS and NS are the admixtures that can be suggested both to enhance the concrete properties and to have a new utilization area for a waste material. Higher 28-day compressive strength of about 28.43 MPa (AS) and 28.82 MPa (NS) was achieved at 15% admixing level by weight of cement while reference sample compressive strength was 25 MPa.

DEGRADATION OF KERATIN CONTAINING WASTES BY BACTERIA WITH KERATINOLYTIC ACTIVITY

The aim of this study was to select keratin-degrading bacteria from JSC “Biocentras” collection and poultry processing plant wastewater, and to study their ability to degrade chicken feathers. Isolated from poultry processing plant wastewater bacteria was grown in basal media with feathers meal and showed high keratinolytic activity and protein content throughout the cultivation time. Bacterial strains B. licheniformis 511, B. subtilis I1, B. subtilis 717, and B. subtilis 103 suggested strongly of bacteria that produces keratinolytic activity in the cell free culture supernatants. The obtained results showed that maximum activity of keratinase is a function of cultivation time by the bacteria tested. B. subtilis 103 reached to its maximum level of keratinase production (152 U/mL) after 24 hrs, when over bacteria (148-242 U/mL) after 48 hrs. The good ability of selected bacteria to degrade feathers was detected. The best biodegradation of feathers was obtained using B. subtilis I-1. Over bacillus good degraded feathers as well.

Irrigation water quality influences heavy metal uptake by willows in biosolids

Phytoextraction is an effective method to remediate heavy metal contaminated landscapes but is often applied for single metal contaminants. Plants used for phytoextraction may not always be able to grow in drier environments without irrigation. This study investigated if willows (Salix x reichardtii A. Kerner) can be used for phytoextraction of multiple metals in biosolids, an end-product of the wastewater treatment process, and if irrigation with reclaimed and freshwater influences the extraction process. A plantation of willows was established directly onto a tilled stockpile of metal-contaminated biosolids and irrigated with slightly saline reclaimed water (EC ∼2 dS/cm) at a wastewater processing plant in Victoria, Australia. Biomass was harvested annually and analysed for heavy metal content. Phytoextraction of cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc was benchmarked against freshwater irrigated willows. The minimum irrigation rate of 700 mm per growing season was sufficient for willows to grow and extract metals. Increasing irrigation rates produced no differences in total biomass and also no differences in the extraction of heavy metals. The reclaimed water reduced both the salinity and the acidity of the biosolids significantly within the first 12 months after irrigation commenced and after three seasons the salinity of the biosolids had dropped to <15% of initial values. A flushing treatment to remove excess salts was therefore not necessary. Irrigation had an impact on biosolids attributes such as salinity and pH, and that this had an influence on metal extraction. Reclaimed water irrigation reduced the biosolid pH and this was associated with reductions of the extraction of Ni and Zn, it did not influence the extraction of Cu and enhanced the phytoextraction of Cd, which was probably related to the high chloride content of the reclaimed water. Our results demonstrate that flood-irrigation with reclaimed water was a successful treatment to grow willows in a dry climate. However, the reclaimed water can also change biosolids properties, which will influence the effectiveness of willows to extract different metals.