Industrial Waste Management and Control

Part 1: Water and wastewater treatment

Water treatment plant (WTP)

It generally takes water from ground, surface, or rainwater sources, makes it drinkable and distributes it to water storage tanks or directly to people.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)

It generally collects sewage from your house and other wastewater (and in some cases, stormwater) from various sites, cleans it, and releases it back into the environment at a safe level for humans, fish, and plants to be around.

Water treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Generally smaller operations

Wastewater treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Generates residual solids that are rich in nutrients (can be applied to farm lands as a fertilizer)

Wastewater treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Product water is disinfected and released back into a nearby waterway or recycled.

Water treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Better raw water quality (from rivers, lakes, or wells)—generally clean and just needs a bit of treatment and disinfection

Wastewater treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Removes wide range of pollutants

Water treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Small amounts of pollutants (ex.: turbidity) are removed

Water treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Product water is fit for human consumption.

Wastewater treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Much larger and more elaborate operations

Wastewater treatment plant

WATER VS WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine whether it is a function of a water or wastewater treatment plant.

Take sewage water from residential, commercial, and/or industrial sources

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

1. Chemical properties

2. Biological properties

3. Physical properties

Enumerate the three (3) properties of water quality.

Chemical properties

PROPERTIES OF WATER QUALITY. Determine what property is being described below.

Includes gases (oxygen, etc.), metals (iron, etc.), nutrients (nitrogen, etc.), pesticides, and other organic compounds

Biological properties

PROPERTIES OF WATER QUALITY. Determine what property is being described below.

Includes bacteria, viruses, protozoans, phytoplankton, zooplankton, insect, plant, fish, etc.

Physical properties

PROPERTIES OF WATER QUALITY. Determine what property is being described below.

Includes color, smell, temperature, taste, turbidity, etc.

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

1. Priority pollutants

2. Organics

3. Dissolved oxygen (DO)

4. Inorganics

5. pH and alkalinity

6. Temperature

7. Solids

8. Nutrients and eutrophication

9. Whole effluent toxicity (WET)

10. Oil and grease

Enumerate the 10 industrial wastewater characteristics.

Priority pollutants

(ADDITIONAL: All priority pollutants are toxic. Most are organic, but biodegradable despite their toxicity.)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is treated on an individual-substance basis for regulatory control.

Organics

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

Includes proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, petrochemicals, solvents, pharmaceutical, small and large molecules, solids and liquids

True

(ADDITIONAL: A typical industry produces many diverse waste streams.)

TRUE OR FALSE. Organic composition of industrial wastes varies widely due to different raw materials used by each specific industry.

Oxygen

It is a critical environment resource in receiving water streams and lakes.

Dissolved oxygen (DO)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is a poorly soluble gas in water.

False

(EXPLANATION: As temperature increases and pressure decreases, solubility of oxygen decreases.)

TRUE OR FALSE. As temperature increases and pressure decreases, solubility of oxygen increases.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Warm wastewater discharges aggravate DO situation in receiving waters.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Lowering temperature increases DO saturation levels and decreases biological metabolism rate.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. DO is minimum when BOD is maximum.

5 mg/L

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

EPA has set minimum stream DO levels at ___ in summer (when the rate of biological metabolism is maximum).

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

Maximum BOD levels and minimum oxygen-demanding components

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

To maintain DO level at >5 mg/L, WW must have ___ and ___ when discharged.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is an important measure of the waste organic strength.

Biochemical oxygen demand

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It measures the amount of oxygen that microorganisms require to break down organic matter present in a water sample.

Biochemical oxygen demand

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is a primary parameter in determining the strength and effects of a pollutant.

BOD5 test

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It determines the oxygen demand of a waste exposed to biological organisms (controlled seed) for an incubation period of 5 days.

BOD5 Test

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It measures the decrease in DO concentrations in 5 days, which is then related to the sample strength.

Oxygen demand

It is usually caused by degradation of organic according to the equation:

Organic waste + O2 (DO) ——> CO2 +H2O

Safe to drink

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

If BOD5 = 1-2 mg/L, water is ___.

Moderately clean

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

If BOD5 = 2-5 mg/L, water is ___.

Near polllution source

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

If BOD5 > 5 mg/L, water is ___.

1. Fill two standard 300 mL BOD bottles with the sample wastewater. Seal the bottles properly.

2. Immediately determine the dissolved oxygen content of one of the samples using Winkler’s method.

3. Incubate the second bottle at 20°C for 5 days in complete darkness.

4. Determine the DO levels after 5 days.

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

How is the BOD5 test being conducted?

Winkler’s method

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

What method is commonly used to determine the dissolved oxygen content of a water sample?

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

BOD5

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It measures the 5-day carbonaceous oxygen demand by aerobic bacteria, representing the readily biodegradable organic matter in wastewater.

BOD20

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It indicates the total BOD, including slower-acting substances like grease and cellulose, after 20 days.

BODu (ultimate BOD)

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It signifies the total oxygen required for the complete breakdown of all organic matter.

BOD20

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

BODu can be estimated by ___.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It is a measure of the oxygen consumed by chemical oxidation of all organic compounds (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) and serves as a faster (<3 hours) alternative to BOD tests for monitoring pollution.

Total organic carbon (TOC)

TESTS RELATED TO BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. Determine which is being described below.

It is a more rapid measurement of the organic content of wastes and may be correlated with BOD and COD for specific wastes.

Inorganics

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is the direct result of inorganic compounds in the carriage water in industrial wastes.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Softwater sources have lower inorganics than hardwater or saltwater.

Sodium

Many food processing wastewaters are high in ___.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Domestic wastewaters have a balance in organics and inorganics.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Process wastewaters are deficient in specific inorganic compounds.

between 6 and 9

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

Wastewater should have pH values between ___ and ___ for minimum impact on the environment.

Corrosive

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

If pH < 6, wastewater tend to be ___.

Metal ions

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

If pH > 9 , precipitation of ___ as carbonates or hydroxides occur.

True

(ADDITIONAL: Adequate alkalinity neutralizes the acid waste components and those formed by partial metabolism of organics.)

TRUE OR FALSE. Alkalinity keeps pH values at the right level.

Neutral organics (ex.: carbohydrates, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These are biodegraded through organic acids, which must be neutralized by the available alkalinity.

Bicarbonate alkalinity

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is considered as the primary buffer in wastewater.

Sodium carbonate

(ADDITIONAL: Sodium carbonate is better to be added than lime, which tends to be hard to control accurately, resulting in high pH levels and precipitation of Ca that forms part of the alkalinity.)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

If alkalinity is inadequate, what compound is added?

10°C and 30°C

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

Operating temperatures are generally kept between ___.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Most industrial wastes tend to be on the warm side.

Thermophilic biological WW treatment systems

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These can be operated up to 65°C with acclimated microbes.

True

(ADDITIONAL: Increased viscosity at low temperatures makes solid separation more difficult.)

TRUE OR FALSE. Low-temperature operations result in slow reaction rates for both biological and chemical WW treatment systems.

Total solids (TS)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These are residues remaining from wastewater dried at 103 to 105°C.

Settleable solids

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These are solids that settle in an Imhoff cone in an hour.

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

First separation

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

In measuring settleable solids, it refers to the portion that passes through a 2-μm filter (dissolved) and the solids captured on the filter (suspended).

Succeeding separation

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

In measuring settleable solids, it refers to the technique using combustion at 500°C which further separates the solids into volatile and ash (fixed), without distinguishing organic from inorganic solids.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Inorganics are mostly lost during combustion.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Volatile fraction approximates the organics present.

Nitrogen and phosphorous

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These cause the increase in aquatic biological productivity, resulting in low DO and eutrophication.

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

Nitrogenous BOD (NBOD)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It refers to the BOD exerted by organic and ammonium N in the water environment.

Carbonaceous BOD (CBOD)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It refers to organic BOD.

Total oxygen demand (TOD)

(ADDITIONAL: TKN refers to the total Kjedahl N.

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It must be satisfied in treatment of wastewaters with organics and ammonium, in accordance with the approximate formula:

TOD = 1.5(BOD5) + 4.5TKN

Organic N + NH4+ - N

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

Total Kjeldahl N is equal to the summation of ___.

Phosphorous

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is not oxidized or reduced biologically, but ortho-P may be formed from organic and poly-P.

Ortho-P

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

This may be removed by chemical precipitation or biologically with sludges.

READ.

• Many industrial wastes are very low in N and P, which must be added if biologically-based treatment is used.

• Others contain very high levels of N (ex.: paint production wastes) and P (ex.: detergent production wastes), which must be treated in areas where eutrophication is a problem.

READ.

• Many industrial wastes are very low in N and P, which must be added if biologically-based treatment is used.

• Others contain very high levels of N (ex.: paint production wastes) and P (ex.: detergent production wastes), which must be treated in areas where eutrophication is a problem.

Whole effluent toxicity (WET)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is a term used to describe the toxic effects imposed on a species or population of aquatic organisms caused by exposure to an effluent.

Whole effluent toxicity

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It is determined analytically by exposing sensitive indigenous organisms to effluents using WET test protocols by EPA.

17

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

How many analytical methods were established by the EPA for testing acute and chronic toxicity of point sources and their impact on surface water environments?

Whole effluent toxicity (WET)

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

It reports on the general acute and chronic toxicity of all constituents in a complex effluent, and not the toxicity of specific chemicals.

Oil and grease

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These are substances found in many industrial wastes (Ex.: meat packing, petrochemical, soap production).

Oil and grease

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

These tend to float on the water surface, blocking oxygen transfer, interfering with recreation, and producing an aesthetically poor appearance in the water.

Fats - solid at room temperature

Oils - liquid at room temperature

Grease - turns to liquid during cooking, but solidifies when cooled

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

What is the difference between fats, oil, and grease?

Solvent-extraction

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS. Determine which is being described below.

Measurement of oil and grease is by a ___ procedure.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Oil and grease must be removed as part of the initial stages of treatment.

1. Pretreatment

2. Primary treatment

3. Secondary treatment

4. Physical-chemical treatment

Enumerate the four (4) kinds of wastewater treatment.

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

Pretreatment

WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

This may include single or multiple unit processes, aimed to reduce the overall toxicity and adverse impact of the waste stream on the total treatment system.

1. Equalization

2. Neutralization

3. Grease and oil removal

4. Toxic substances

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

Pretreatment includes (4):

FAMILIARIZE.

FAMILIARIZE.

Equalization

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

It is one of the most important pretreatment devices and is best suited for batch discharge of concentrated wastes.

Equalization

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

It is important to equalize WW flows and/or concentrations.

Flow equalization

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

It tends to level out the hydraulic loads in treatment units.

READ.

In flow equalization,

• Periodic WW discharges tend to overload treatment units. 

• May or may not level out concentration variations, depending upon the extent of mixing within the equalization basin

READ.

In flow equalization,

• Periodic WW discharges tend to overload treatment units. 

• May or may not level out concentration variations, depending upon the extent of mixing within the equalization basin

Mechanical mixing

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

For equalization, this may be adequate if the wastes are purely chemical in their reactivity.

Aeration mixing

WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT. Determine which is being described below.

For equalization, this is required for biodegradable wastes so that the microbes are kept aerobic and nuisance odors are prevented.