Treatment of Strong Fermentation Wastes by Activated Sludge

This paper reports a comprehensive wastewater pollution abatement program implemented at a plant producing pharmaceutical products by fermentation. The production is mainly devoted to tetracycline, oxytetracycline derivatives and to gentamicin sulfate, using different agricultural sources. The studies were undertaken in a context that covered all the principal components necessary for an industrial control program: wastewater characterization and pollution profile, treatability evaluation, description of the most suitable technology. Extensive studies were carried out to assess the treatability characteristics of process wastes as well as waste combinations. Pertinent kinetic constants were determined in lab-scale experiments. The availability of air regularly discharged from the processing plant made an aerobic process an economically attractive treatment system.A fraction of the cooling discharges was mixed with process wastes in the planning and design of the treatment flow scheme (a) to lower the BOD concentration below 2000 mgl−1, and (b) to provide an equalization and buffering capacity for hydraulic and toxic shocks.

The use of antibiotic fermentation wastes as fertilizers for tomatoes

SUMMARYAn investigation was carried out into the potential of tylosin and terramycin fermentation wastes as fertilizers for tomatoes. Each waste was added at concentrations equivalent to 1 tN/ha to John Innes base compost. Each waste provided the sole source of nitrogen for the crop. Controls were set up with inorganic nitrogen applied at 1 tN/ha and 0·2 tN/ha, the quantity of nitrogen normally found in John Innes potting compost. Comparisons were also made between wet and dry terramycin waste. Each treatment was added to normal John Innes base compost and John Innes base minus one part peat, to determine the potential of antibiotic fermentation waste as a peat substitute. The size, weight and antibiotic content of the tomatoes produced were determined.The use of antibiotic fermentation wastes delayed the onset of tomato production due to the slow release of nitrogen. Final yields were not significantly different from the control treatments except in the tylosin treatment which produced the highest yield, both in terms of weight and numbers, of all the treatments. The reduction in the amount of peat in the base compost only appeared to affect the control treatments, where a delay in the onset of tomato production was seen in the control low in peat. No antibiotic was detected in any of the tomatoes.