Carbon Dioxide in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents from Oxygen-Activated Sludge Treatment Plants as a Potential Source of Distress and Toxicity to Fish

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian O’Connor ◽  
Tibor Kovacs ◽  
Sharon Gibbons ◽  
Al Strang

Abstract Rainbow trout exposed to effluent from a UNOX (oxygen activated sludge) treatment plant were found to exhibit signs of distress during the first hours of exposure. While the final effluent was not acutely lethal at full strength, it was still important to determine the cause of the distress to ensure that the mill's effluents remain in regulatory compliance. The use of a series of effluent manipulations involving pH adjustment and aeration as well as observations of symptoms exhibited by the fish were successful in identifying carbon dioxide as the cause of fish distress for the UNOX-treated effluent. For rainbow trout, the symptoms of exposure to elevated levels of carbon dioxide of 100 mg/L or greater included loss of equilibrium, erratic swimming, gasping at the surface, sinking to the bottom of the test container and paralysis. The fish were found to eventually recover as the carbon dioxide was stripped from the effluent due to aeration during the test. A carbon dioxide concentration of 250 mg/L, however, was found to be lethal to trout A survey of mills using oxygen activated sludge treatment systems indicated that the carbon dioxide levels in effluents from such operations can range from 48 to 251 mg/L. Solutions for eliminating the fish distress and possible mortality associated with such effluents would be to lower the carbon dioxide level to below 100 mg/L by aeration or pH adjustment.

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Cantusio Neto ◽  
J.U. Santos ◽  
R.M.B. Franco

Among many waterborne diseases the giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are of particular public health interest, because Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts can persist for long periods in the environment, and both pathogenic protozoa have been implicated as the cause of many outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the last 25 years. In order to evaluate the efficiency of cysts and oocysts' removal by the activated sludge process, and by UV reactor in inactivating cysts and oocysts in one wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Campinas, three sampling points were selected for study: (1) influent, (2) treated effluent without UV disinfection and (3) treated effluent with UV disinfection. Giardia spp. cysts prevailed with higher density in the three different sample types. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were observed in only two samples of influent and just one sample of treated sewage with UV disinfection. In the animal infectivity assay for Giardia spp, one mouse of the UV treated group revealed trophozoites in intestinal scrapings. The results of the present study indicate that treatment by activated sludge process delivered a reduction of 98.9% of cysts and 99.7% of oocysts and UV disinfection was not completely efficient regarding the inactivation of Giardia cysts in the case of the WWTP studied.


1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-54
Author(s):  
Shyam D. Bokil ◽  
Jatinder K. Bewtra

Abstract Nine sets of batch experiments, each of ten to twelve days duration, were conducted in the laboratory on return-sludge samples collected from activated sludge treatment plant at Windsor. The thickened sludge samples were blended daily in a waring blender and were continuously aerated in twelve-litres capacity jars. Parallel runs were made on control sludge samples which were not blended. Amongst the parameters varied were the speed and frequency of blending and the aeration rate. The effects of these variables on progressive bio-degradation of volatile suspended solids and the settling characteristics of the sludge were determined. Blended sludge showed significant improvement in the rate of bio-degradation and its settling characteristics as compared to the control unblended sludge


1987 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kosaric ◽  
Z. Duvnjak

Abstract Aerobic sludge from a municipal activated sludge treatment plant, sludge from a conventional municipal anaerobic digester, aerobic sludge from an activated sludge process of a petroleum refinery, and granular sludge from an upflow sludge blanket reactor (USBR) were tested in the deemulsification of a water-in-oil emulsion. All sludges except the last one, showed a good deemulsification capability and could he used for a partial deemulsification of such emulsions. The rate and degree of the deemulsifications increased with an increase in sludge concentrations. The deemulsifications were faster at 85°C and required smaller amounts of sludge than in the case of the deemulsifications at room temperature. An extended stirring (up to a certain limit) in the course of the dispersion of sludge emulsion helped the deemulsification. Too vigorous agitation had an adverse effect. The deemulsification effect of sludge became less visible with an increase in the dilution of emulsion which caused an increase in its spontaneous deemulsification.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Langi ◽  
M. Priha

The mutagenic properties of pulp and paper mill effluents were studied in three mills: bleached kraft mill with aerated lagoon treatment (Mill 1), bleached kraft mill with activated sludge treatment (Mill 2) and mechanical pulp/paper mill (Mill 3). Both treated and untreated effluents, process streams and molecular fractions were tested for mutagenicity (Ames test. Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and SCE sister chromatid exchange test, Chinese hamster ovary cells). To verify the potential environmental effects the mutagenic activity of concentrated recipient lake water (Mill 2) was also studied. The Ames mutagenicity of the bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) originated from the first chlorination filtrate, SCE mutagenicity also occurred in the alkali extraction stage filtrate (Mill 1). No Ames mutagenicity was detected in the paper mill effluent, but it was SCE mutagenic. Activated sludge treatment of BKME removed both Ames and SCE mutagenicity, but the aerated lagoon treated BKME was still SCE mutagenic. No mutagenic activity was detected in the recipient water concentrates.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 2543-2546
Author(s):  
M. Defrain ◽  
F. Schmidt

In the calculations customarily used to dimension nitrification and denitrification plants in the Federal Republic of Germany, solids in the influent of the biological stage represent a significant output variable. Numerous modified methods based on nationally and internationally standardized analysis procedures are available to determine solids concentrations in waste-water. Tests showed that different values are measured depending on the method of analysis employed. Harmonization of the analysis procedure is advisable to ensure comparable conditions for the calculation of activated sludge tank volumes. The solids reaching a treatment plant originate from two main sources. Filterable materials are passed to the treatment plant via the preceding sewerage network with its industrial and commercial users, but are also carried by process water from sludge treatment. The influence of process water on wastewater composition is illustrated by reference to the Wuppertal-Buchenhofen treatment plant.


1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chudoba ◽  
R. Pujol

Most of municipal activated sludge plants located in wine production regions receive winery wastewaters during the grape harvest period which lasts usually only a few weeks. A drastic increase in organic pollution (COD, BOD) during this period generates a temporary overloading, resulting very often in biological problems such as decreased sludge settleability, sludge floc disintegration, increased SS concentration in treated effluent and in the worst case a complete plant failure. In order to work satisfactorily even during those temporary overloading periods, the plant has to be oversized. This strategy is rather costly, because such a plant has to run below its nominal capacity during a major part of the year. An original solution has been proposed and successfully tested at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Eguisheim, France. The proposed technique is based on the addition of a mineral material with a low particle size, whose presence positively influences the physical behaviour of the sludge and will allow the nominal capacity of the plant to be surpassed without any important modification. The modification of the sludge structure around the added powdered material improved significantly the sludge settleability (DSVI< 160 ml/g) and enabled the plant to treat organic pollution several times higher than the nominal level.


2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. Sevimli ◽  
A.F. Aydin ◽  
Ì. Öztürk ◽  
H.Z. Sarikaya

The aim of this study is to characterize the wastewater from an opium alkaloid processing plant and to evaluate alternative treatment techniques to upgrade an existing full-scale biological activated sludge treatment plant having problems of high residual COD and unacceptable dark brown color. In this content firstly, long term operational records of the two stage aerobic activated sludge treatment plant of the opium alkaloid factory located in Afyon province of Turkiye were evaluated. The operating results for the last three years were statistically analyzed and median and 95-percentile values were determined for the parameters including chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD5) and treatment efficiencies. Specific wastewater generation was found as 6.7 m3 per ton of the opium capsule processed. In the following stage of the study, three additional treatment processes were experimentally tested: anaerobic pretreatment, post treatment of aerobically treated effluents with lime and ozone. Pilot scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBR) experiments have demonstrated that about 70 percent of the incoming COD can be removed anaerobically. Chemical treatability studies with lime for the aerobically treated effluent have shown that about 78 percent color and 46 percent COD removals can be obtained with lime dosage of 25 gl−1. Post treatment of the effluents of the existing two stage aerobic treatment with ozone also resulted in significant color and COD reduction.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Knudsen ◽  
J. A. Pedersen ◽  
J. Munck

The work presented in this paper concerns the application of a two-stage aerobic activated sludge process for treatment of effluents from paper mills in Denmark. The paper describes both pilot-scale test results and fullscale experience with the process. The treatment process is characterised by a bigh-load first stage (2-4 kg COD/kg MLSSxd) followed by a low-load second stage to secure full nitrification and denitrification of remaining nitrogen compounds. The results of continuous pilot-scale tests show that it is possible to obtain a reduction of more than 85% of the incoming COD,01 and a 99% reduction of the incoming BOD5, resulting in an effluent quality of 230 mg CODsol/l and less than 10 mg BOD5/l. As indicated, practically all the biodegradable organic substances are removed by the process. The remaining fraction of soluble organics measured as COD is considered to be non-biodegradable by conventional biological treatment systems. The results produced in the pilot-scale tests are confirmed by the effluent qualities obtained in a full-scale treatment plant at another paper mill, involving an identical process concept. During the pilot-scale tests, special attention bas been paid to the removal of organic compounds, organic nitrogen as well as nutrients and nitrification. In addition, the sludge characteristics and the oxygen requirements have been considered.


2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sekyiamah ◽  
H. Kim

A wastewater treatment plant consists of unit processes designed to achieve specific waste reduction goals. Offensive odors associated with these treatment processes are a constant source of public complaints. The purpose of this study was to statistically determine the process parameters that influence the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the secondary treatment system. A statistical model was developed to relate the process parameters to the formation of VSCs in this system. The model established that F/M ratio, sludge blanket depth and SSV60 were the dominant process parameters that influenced the formation of VSCs in the secondary sedimentation basin. This model provides a useful tool for plant engineers to predict and control the VSC formation in a secondary activated sludge treatment system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Vivekanandan ◽  
K Jeyannathann ◽  
A. Seshagiri Rao

Abstract The quality of a treated effluent changes when there is a sudden variation in the influent flow to the wastewater treatment plant during dry, rain, and storm weather conditions. In this study, various influent flow conditions in an activated sludge process are considered that affect the sensitivity of effluent variables such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate nitrogen (SNO), ammonical nitrogen (SNH), and total nitrogen (TN) with respect to varying internal recycle flow rate (Qa), sludge recycle flow rate (Qr), sludge wastage flow rate (Qw) and oxygen transfer rate co-efficient of aerobic tanks (KLa(3,4,5)). The analysis has been carried out based on benchmark simulation model no.1 (BSM 1) plant layout which comprises of two models namely activated sludge model no.1 (ASM 1) and simple one dimensional (Simple 1-D) Takacs model. Based on the present analysis, it is observed that the changes in influent flow rate have larger impact on the effluent variables. This variation can be subdued by introducing additional tanks to smoothen the perturbations or using internal recycle rate from the fifth tank in order to maintain the flow around the optimal influent flow rate. The sludge wastage rate has a greater impact on all effluent variables except nitrogenous variables during maximum flow conditions.


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