Wastewater management in small- and medium-size enterprises: case studies

Wastewater management in small and medium-sized enterprises representing the chemical and food industries was investigated. The results showed that wastewater discharged from an ink-production factory was highly contaminated with organic pollutants. Anaerobic biological treatment followed by chemical coagulation using ferric chloride aided with lime proved to be very effective and produced an effluent that complied with national regulatory standard for wastewater discharge into public sewage network. Also, management of wastewater from a confectionery factory representing the food sector was carried out. Aerobic biological treatment using plastic-packed trickling filter proved to be an effective treatment method. However, application of in-plant control measures alleviated the requirement for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. The applied pollution prevention and cleaner production measures involved good housekeeping, recovery of spent chocolate, modification of floor cleaning and installation of suction devices for the removal of sugar and starch powders. All improvement measures were documented by cost/benefit analysis.     

A preliminary process design and economic assessment of a catalyst rejuvenation process for waste disposal of refinery spent catalysts

Spent hydroprocessing catalysts from refineries have been classified as hazardous solid waste by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), refiners must find a viable but economical solution to solve this serious environmental issue. Catalyst rejuvenation is an attractive option for minimizing the environmental problems associated with spent catalysts. In this study, a preliminary design for such a process and the corresponding economic analysis are performed to assess the proposed catalyst rejuvenation process for metal-fouled spent catalysts generated in residue hydroprocessing units. The scenarios used in the economic assessment are based on three options of process synthesis and two operator modes. It is found that the option of rejuvenating medium and lightly fouled spent catalyst produced by the refinery will be the best solution for refiners, both environmentally and economically.     

Enhanced sludge solubilization by microbubble ozonation

A microbubble ozonation process for enhancing sludge solubilization was proposed and its performance was evaluated in comparison to a conventional ozone bubble contactor. Microbubbles are defined as bubbles with diameters less than several tens of micrometers. Previous studies have demonstrated that microbubbles could accelerate the formation of hydroxyl radicals and hence improve the ozonation of dyestuff wastewater. The results of this study showed that microbubble ozonation was effective in increasing ozone utilization and improving sludge solubilization. For a contact time of 80 min, an ozone utilization efficiency of more than 99% was obtained using the microbubble system, while it gradually decreased from 94% to 72% for the bubble contactor. The rate of microbial inactivation was obviously faster in the microbubble system. At an ozone dose of 0.02 g O₃ g⁻¹ TSS, about 80% of microorganisms were inactivated in the microbubble system, compared with about 50% inactivation for the bubble contactor. Compared to the bubble contactor, more than two times of COD and total nitrogen, and eight times of total phosphorus content were released from the sludge into the supernatant by using the microbubble system at the same ozone dosage. The application of microbubble technology in ozonation processes may provide an effective and low cost approach for sludge reduction.     

Pre-concentration and separation of heavy metal ions by chemically modified waste paper gel

Iminodiacetic acid was immobilized on waste paper by chemical modification in order to develop a new type of adsorption gel for heavy metal ions. Adsorption behavior of the gel was investigated for a number of metal ions, specifically Cu(II), Pb(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Cd(II), and Co(II) at acidic pH. From batch adsorption tests, the order of selectivity was found to be as follows: Cu(II)  Fe(III) > Pb(II) > Ni(II)  Co(II) > Cd(II). Column tests were carried out for pairs of metal ions to understand the separation and pre-concentration behavior of the gel. It was found that mutual separation of Ni(II) from Co(II) and that of Pb(II) from Cd(II) can be achieved at pH 3. Similarly, selective separation of Cu(II) from Cu(II)–Fe(III) and Cu(II)–Pb(II) mixtures at pH 1.5 and 2, respectively, was observed by using this new adsorption gel. In all cases, almost complete recovery of the adsorbed metal was confirmed by elution tests with HCl.     

An international survey of decabromodiphenyl ethane (deBDethane) and decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) in sewage sludge samples

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (deBDethane) is an additive flame retardant marketed as a replacement for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE). The structures of the two chemicals are similar, and hence deBDethane may also become an environmental contaminant of concern. Environmental data on deBDethane are scarce. Since sewage sludge is an early indicator of leakage of these chemicals into the environment, an international survey of deBDethane and decaBDE levels in sludge was conducted. Samples were collected from 42 WWTPs in 12 different countries and analyzed with GC/LRMS. DeBDethane was present in sludge from all countries and may therefore be a worldwide concern. The levels of deBDethane in sludge samples from the Ruhr area of Germany were the highest so far reported in the literature (216 ng g⁻¹ d.wt.). The [deBDethane]/[decaBDE] quotient for the whole data set ranged from 0.0018 to 0.83. High ratios were found in and around Germany where deBDethane imports are known to have been high and substitution of decaBDE with deBDethane is likely to have occurred. Low ratios were found in the USA and the UK, countries that have traditionally been large users of decaBDE. An estimate of the flux of deBDEthane from the technosphere via WWTPs to the environment within the European Union gave 1.7 ± 0.34 mg annually per person. The corresponding value for decaBDE was 41 ± 22 mg annually per person.     

气相色谱法测定废水和废气中N′,N-二甲基甲酰胺

以气相色谱石英毛细管柱分离、ＦＩＤ检测,测定废水和废气中Ｎ′,Ｎ－二甲基甲酰胺（ＤＭＦ）。在１０ｍｇ／Ｌ～１８８１０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内有良好的线性关系。检测限：废水为０５ｍｇ／Ｌ;废气为０８ｍｇ／ｍ３。样品测定的相对标准差为４％～８％,回收率在７６％～１１２％之间,精密度和准确度均较好     

化学需氧量在造纸废水中分布规律及采样点位的优化

目前对造纸废水的监测通常采取随机取样,很少考虑污染物在废水中的分布情况,所以取得的样品很难反映污染物的实际排放情况。为此,通过对某造纸厂排废废水中化学需氧量分布夫妻及采样点位的优化研究。     

硼氢化钾吹气—分光光度法测定污水中硫化物

污水样品用硼氢化钾片剂酸性氢化反应,使硫化物同酸作用转化为Ｈ２Ｓ,并被氢气吹出,以ＮａＯＨ溶液吸收,再用对氨基二甲基苯胺光度法测定。为了应急监测,研制了ＬＳ－１型硫化物快速测试预装置,配用ＤＲ／２０００型便携式分光光度计,可在现场进行了水中硫化物的快速监测。．     

二氯荧光黄为指示剂的硝酸银滴定法测定废水中氯化物

采用以二氯荧光黄为指示剂的硝酸银滴定法测定废水中氯化物。优化实验条件后,以该法测定质控样,相对误差-1.30%～2.70%,相对标准偏差0.10%～0.14%,加标回收率约为98%。用该法测定废水中氯化物是合理可行的。     

生活垃圾焚烧炉烟气新标准可达性分析

对《生活垃圾焚烧污染控制标准》(GB 18485—2001)和《生活垃圾焚烧污染控制标准》(GB 18485—2014)中各项指标的排放限值作比较,并探讨了二噁英、重金属、酸性气体、烟尘、碳氧化物等烟气污染物的控制措施。结合2010—2014年浙江省部分生活垃圾焚烧厂"三同时"验收废气监测数据,对排放指标的达标情况作分析,结果表明,采用"3T+E"焚烧工艺+SNCR脱硝+半干法脱酸+活性炭喷射+布袋除尘器除尘的烟气污染控制技术,可以同时满足脱氮、脱酸、除尘,以及去除重金属和二噁英的要求。