Journal of Environmental Biology

 DOI : http://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/40/3(SI)/Sp-09

Laboratory assessment of GAC-packed IFAS for? treatment of primary treated petrochemical? wastewater 

Paper received: 17. 04. 2018?????????????????????????????????????????????????? Revised received:? 25. 10.2018??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Accepted: 03.01. 2019

Authors Info

M.E. Ahmed*, A. Mydlarczyk and A. Abusam     

Water Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research,? Safat, 13109, Kuwait

*Corresponding Author Email :

miahmed@kisr.edu.kw

Abstract

Aim: In this study, the integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) process was set up to include a high surface area growth support medium, which is granular activated carbon (GAC). This configuration was experimented to evaluate its ability to enhance the biodegradation process, utilizing both suspended growth and attached growth in a manner that can be optimized and aid in the removal of organics and nutrients, when GAC is used as a support material, in addition to providing increased capability to handle variable or shock loads.    

Methodology: Batch laboratory-scale studies were conducted to assist in understanding the process behavior and aid in future piloting/upscaling at later phase.

Results: The process was found to be feasible with encouraging design parameters, such as its ability to reduce COD, minimize the nutrients, and recover DO levels in the effluent. More specifically, at high GAC loading case (200 g-GAC l^-1), the attached biomass to suspended biomass ratio varied from 1 to 7 and for low GAC case (100 g-GAC l^-1), it varied from 0.5 to 5 over a 3 day period and then remained steady over 9 day experimental period. COD degradation rates of IFAS were mostly achieved during the first day of experiment where total biomass exceeded that of the control experiment without GAC, and during the consecutive days only slight improvement was noticed. ?

Interpretation: The integrated film activated sludge process was able to treat organic compounds in the petrochemical wastewater and also reduced nutrients represented by total nitrogen and total phosphorous and recovered DO levels. A high GAC loading case, the attached biomass to suspended biomass ratio varied from 1 to 7 and for low GAC case, it varied from 0.5 to 5 over a 3 day period and then remained steady over 9 day experimental period. Additionally, the COD degradation rates of IFAS were mostly achieved during the first day of experiment where total biomass exceeded that of the control experiment without GAC, and during the consecutive days only slight improvement was noticed.

Key words: Granular activated carbon, Integrated fixed film activated sludge, Petrochemical wastewater, Wastewater treatment

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