Wastewater Treatment with High Organic Load

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I am a member of a team working on the NoBi (Bidirectional Nodes) program sponsored by Conacyt (National Council of Science and Technology) Mexico and by the NSF (National Science Foundation).

Our team is aiming to determine the needs and requirements regarding the treatment of wastewater with high organic load, generated in the production centers of food, meat, poultry, etc.

How can we know which treatment solution exactly to apply? How does the treatment change as the organic load changes?

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33 Answers

  2. I would strongly suggest cross flow membrane bioreactor for anaerobic conversion of waste waters with varying organic content and even high concentrations of particulate matter.

    A unique feature in this process treatment is the retention of biomass combined with high loading capacity and COD removal for even complex waste waters with high particulate concentration

  3. It is important to understand what the organic load exactly is. In this industry, you are dealing typically with fats, oil, grease, blood, bone etc. that needs to be separated and decomposed by bacteria.

    A screening process will definitely be needed to reduce the bulk of the load.

    If the size of the plant is an issue, fats and oils are typically flocculated and separated through dissolved air floatation (DAF). This is skimmed off using a mechanical skimmer. Alternatively, you could use an individual or series of anaerobic and aerobic ponds or tanks with mechanical aeration.

    Tertiary treatment is either settling pond, clarifier, media filtration or micro/ultra filtration. 

    The footprint (size) of the ponds and tanks will increase with the higher organic load to allow sufficient residence time for the bacteria to convert and digest the organic matter. This is the main factor to consider when choosing a treatment process because it contributes to capital costs.

    Mechanical aeration and physical barriers such as membranes can reduce the footprint of the plant considerably but will result in increased operating costs. 

    I am experienced in Agriculture and Food production wastewater treatment in Asia and Australia. My company also designs and manufactures a range of innovative technologies for this specific application. If you email me at andrew@waterandoilsolutions.com.au, I'll be happy to discuss possible solutions for your needs.

     

  7. There is but one solution. It is called BIOREMEDIATION. There is only one species that has the genetic code of reducing all organic compounds into their elemental/nutritional form. It is Called ARCHAEA. The load density or type is irrelevant.  Your only real decision is the potable water discharge. 1. back into the reservoir or 2. sell/give the nutrient dense potable water to the farmers. 3. dump it into rivers allowing the cleaning process to continue all the way to the ocean.  The process has been working for a few billion years. Hard to compete with that work history. 

  8. www.baleen.com for the simple, most-effective solution

    1 Comment

    1. Bonjour 

      La filtration ne doit pas être considérée comme un traitement. C'est uniquement une fonction séparative du solide et du liquide. Cette fonction n'apporte aucune efficacité à l'épuration qui elle élimine la polllution organique.

      la vocation d'un filtre c'est de retenir, ce qui le fait colmater, la masse solide retenue se transforme en boue sous l'effet de la putréfaction.

      Par une action on créé une autre problématique: Que faire des résidus provenant de la filtration? c'est simple ils terminent tous dans l'environnement par un moyen ou un autre 

      Hello filtration should not be considered a treatment. It is only a separate function of the solid and the liquid. This function does not give any efficacy to the purification which removes the organic polllution.

      The purpose of a filter is to retain, which makes it clog, the solid mass retained turns into mud under the effect of decay.

      By one action one creates another problem: what to do with the residues from the filtration? It's simple they all end up in the environment by one way or another 

       

      1 Comment reply

      1. For effluents from such 'high organic loaded' industries, baleen alone dramatically reduces TSS/COD/FOG to less than 1,000mg/L (with screenings recovered as byproduct for added ROI) but when coupled with suitable-flocculation reduces these loadings to around 100mg/L (once again as value-added byproduct, and once again for added ROI). For supporting information kindly visit www.baleen.com/industry

  9. Sergio, sometimes its not how much load but what kind of organic load?   polyphenols, high ammonia, high fog, high sugar....all these have different characteristics  that you have to watch out for.  

     

    1 Comment

    1. Bonjour  Bien vu cher ami mais il faut aller encore un peu plus loin car la surveillance n'apportera pas de solution d'épuration. On ne peut pas effecteur une épuration ciblée sur un élément dans un effluent comprenant de multiples composants, et encore plus grave quand il existe des composnats chimiques comme la plus part des effluents 

      Hello well seen dear friend but we have to go a little further because the monitoring will not bring a purification solution. Targeted purification cannot be performed on a specific element of an effluent comprising multiple components, see chemical components as the most part of the effluent 

  10. What is the expected COD concentration in your wastewater?

    1 Comment

    1. Bonjour Ce n'est pas tant la concentration de morue qui est importante que l'état de cette concentration. Si la morue est en décomposition, putréfaction, tous les systèmes actuels ne pourront rien produire d'autre que de la boue. Une matière organique en putréfaction est déjà de la boue .

       

      Hello it is not so much the concentration of cod that is important as the state of this concentration. If the cod is decaying, rotting, all the current systems will not produce anything other than mud. A rotting organic matter is already mud.

  11. As suggested by Bruno anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic treatment to remove residual COD and ammonia would be the best option. Depending on the requirements denitrification might also be necessary.

    1 Comment

    1. Bonjour En quoi consiste la digestion anaérobie? Par quel principe un effluent aérobie laisse t-il s'implanter un espace sans oxygène? comment se matérialise la barrière aérobie-anaérobie? Comment biologiquement parlant, un espace sans oxygène se créé en si peu de temps? l'eau est composé de H2O, que devient l'oxygène ?

      l'anaérobie n'existe pas sur terre, l'anaérobie ne peut pas exister sur notre planète

      Hello what is anaerobic digestion? By what principle does an aerobic effluent allow an oxygen-free space? How does the aerobic-anaerobic barrier materialize? How biologically speaking, a space without oxygen is created in such a short time? Water is composed of H2O, what becomes oxygen?

      The anaerobic does not exist on Earth, the anaerobic cannot exist on our planet

  12. Hello Sergio Cabrera Arnal Sergio Cabrera Arnal ,

    Since 40 years we convert a broad range of biodegradable wastewaters with high organic load (COD, BOD) worldwide to green energy (methane > steam, electrical power, ...). When this COD is largely soluble (low TSS/COD) then we use high-rate methane reactors after adequate pretreatment (if/as needed), equalisation and conditioning. For wastewaters with medium to high TSS, we use upstream TSS removal, hydrolysis or larger medium reactors (mesophilic or thermophilic according to specific case).

    Depending on the kind of wastewater and its COD concentration as well as on the discharge requirements a polishing conventional or advanced aerobic biological treatment may be needed.

    If interested, I would be happy to send you more information via email.

    Regards,

    Bruno

    1 Comment

    1. Bonjour 

      une eau usée n'est pas biodégradable, seules le sont les matières organiques. L'eau n'est pas biodégradable et la pollution dissoute qu'elle contient n'est pas non plus biodégradable. 

      Faire une filtration de l'effluent en amont n'apporte pas de réelle solution puisque ces résidus se transforment en boue. La boue est un poison pour l'environnement

       

      Hello a waste water is not biodegradable, only organic materials are. Water is not biodegradable and the dissolved pollution it contains is not biodegradable. 

      Filtration of the effluent upstream does not provide a real solution since these residues are transformed into mud. Mud is a poison to the environment

  13. the treatment solution will depend on the volume concentration and nature of the organic load and on the discharge consent the target level of COD SS TDS Nitrogen...

  14. the treatment solution will depend on the volume concentration and nature of the organic load and on the discharge consent the target level of COD SS TDS Nitrogen...

  15. Anaerobic wastewater treatment is usually very suitable for wastewater from the food and beverages industry. Two examples of techniques are Biopaq ICX and Biopaq AFR. The last technique is also used in wastewater treatment from the poultry industry. 

    http://en.paques.nl/products/featured/biopaq/biopaqicx
    http://en.paques.nl/products/featured/biopaq/biopaqafr

    After the anaerobic treatment it is very common to use a aerobic treatment basin to remove the last part of COD and N. 

  16. Hello Sergio,

    We deal in nano bubble solution, due to which we propose a DOF ( Dissolved ozone floatations much better and efficient  than DAF). The ozone nanobubbles provide much better coagulation and flotation of suspended solids than conventional air and at the same time due to extremely high ozone dissolution ( upto 95% ) and creation of hydroxyl radicals ( our technology produces one of the maximum in this case.) ..we are able to achieve high levels of oxidation and flocolation and coagulation all in the same tank...In Korea and the Far East most of the pig farms / chick farms use this system now.... The result is extremely low footprint, allowing reuse of water, very low retention time,elimination or reduction of odour significantly in the first process itself,the biological reactor can decompose the remaining organic load more effectively due to less load and less complex chains to break, the use of ozone  nanobubbles again in the tertiary treatment along with sand filters and carbon filters eliminates all pathogens ( up to 99 %) load to achieve reuse standards...This technology also can be used for extremely efficient surface cleaning and spraying of the ozone nanobubble water on the Caracass results in very low use of water plus better disinfection and shelf life... So over all this is the technology for the pig/ chicken and cattle industry... Not to mention the feeding of high DO water to the cattle and pigs also results in high yield and better immunity thus reduced mortality....

     

    Harish Anantharaman

  17. Estimado Sergio:

    The Vetiver System Technology – www.vetiver.org – offers as well solucions in wastewater treatment and disposal. My collegues Dr. Paul Truong and Ing. Juan Daniel Londono from Australia / Columbia are the experts in this fields. More information about there VETICON Consulting in Australia and there contact,s you can find in there web-site: http://veticon.com.au -.

    Greetings from Peru,

    Joe Boehnert,

    www.vetiverperu.org

    2 Comments

    1. Hello Sergio,

      We deal in nano bubble solution, due to which we propose a DOF ( Dissolved ozone floatations much better and efficient  than DAF). The ozone nanobubbles provide much better coagulation and flotation of suspended solids than conventional air and at the same time due to extremely high ozone dissolution ( upto 95% ) and creation of hydroxyl radicals ( our technology produces one of the maximum in this case.) ..we are able to achieve high levels of oxidation and flocolation and coagulation all in the same tank...In Korea and the Far East most of the pig farms / chick farms use this system now.... The result is extremely low footprint, allowing reuse of water, very low retention time,elimination or reduction of odour significantly in the first process itself,the biological reactor can decompose the remaining organic load more effectively due to less load and less complex chains to break, the use of ozone  nanobubbles again in the tertiary treatment along with sand filters and carbon filters eliminates all pathogens ( up to 99 %) load to achieve reuse standards...This technology also can be used for extremely efficient surface cleaning and spraying of the ozone nanobubble water on the Caracass results in very low use of water plus better disinfection and shelf life... So over all this is the technology for the pig/ chicken and cattle industry... Not to mention the feeding of high DO water to the cattle and pigs also results in high yield and better immunity thus reduced mortality....

       

      Harish Anantharaman

  18. Hello Sergio,

    We deal in nano bubble solution, due to which we propose a DOF ( Dissolved ozone floatations much better and efficient  than DAF). The ozone nanobubbles provide much better coagulation and flotation of suspended solids than conventional air and at the same time due to extremely high ozone dissolution ( upto 95% ) and creation of hydroxyl radicals ( our technology produces one of the maximum in this case.) ..we are able to achieve high levels of oxidation and flocolation and coagulation all in the same tank...In Korea and the Far East most of the pig farms / chick farms use this system now.... The result is extremely low footprint, allowing reuse of water, very low retention time,elimination or reduction of odour significantly in the first process itself,the biological reactor can decompose the remaining organic load more effectively due to less load and less complex chains to break, the use of ozone  nanobubbles again in the tertiary treatment along with sand filters and carbon filters eliminates all pathogens ( up to 99 %) load to achieve reuse standards...This technology also can be used for extremely efficient surface cleaning and spraying of the ozone nanobubble water on the Caracass results in very low use of water plus better disinfection and shelf life... So over all this is the technology for the pig/ chicken and cattle industry... Not to mention the feeding of high DO water to the cattle and pigs also results in high yield and better immunity thus reduced mortality....

     

    Harish Anantharaman

     

  19. Engr. Mansoor Ahmed is correct. Generally, the food process wastewater is fully biodegradable and very easy to be treated, although its organic load is high. Normally the treatment process starts from an anaerobic digestion that can generate energy, rather than consumes energy. Depends on the effluent discharge requirement, you may require a further treatment. If the effluent quality of anaerobic digestion doesn’t meet the discharge target, then an activated sludge process (via aerobic treatment) will be required. If the effluent reuse is required, a MF-RO will be the final process.

  20. Ola Sergio

    Your question raises many questions that are addressed in the other answers. The information that you are sharing with us, suggests that you are dealing with a major program for your country. In effect, reinventing the wheel would be unfortunate. The disposal, treatment and valorization of waste streams that originate in slaughterhouses and meat processing centers is well documented. Different studies describe procedures for the identification and selection of Best Available Technologies for this industry. Anaerobic digestion is an interesting option to investigate.

    The Scandinavian countries, for instance, have designed very efficient programs and processes.

    Philippe

    Reference Scandinavia

    http://www.sgc.se/ckfinder/userfiles/files/LiU16.pdf

     

     

  22. There is no "one fits all" kind of solution when wastewater is the topic. However depending on biological means will always be a problem when sensible variations are in the mix. Today using non-biological technics and deactivating the overactive nature of organic loads is the key to success and sensibly easier to control when variations occur. Detailed analysis is needed but once proper design is in place any flow capacity can be treated with desired results. If you are interested in the hows and the whens let me know and we can discuss specifics.

  23. Hi Sergio,

    The most effective and most cost effective method to treat used water from industrial operations is at the production area. By this I mean that it is best to minimise the organic loads being lost to drain and to minimise the volume of water used in the production area.

    Then when the waste loads have been minimised the required treatment process can be designed. In the meat processing industry a good blood collection process is essential to minimise organic loads. In chicken processing dry processing of offal, rather than wet transport / pumping, etc., can greatly reduce organic loads.

    Processing of value added products in meat plants, (such as gut recovery, hock recovery, etc can lead to very high water usage and in some cases very high losses of protein based materials, suspended solids, fats, etc).

    It is therefore critical that the process commence with a critical review of the production areas to ensure that the efficiencies in the process are optimised.

    Typically a beef or cow unit would be expected to use 1 m3 water and to generate 3.5 kg BOD per head to process, .... check how your facility compares to this "typical" target value.

    Regards

    Tom Keenan

  27. Hi Sergio,

    The best way to assess the correct treatment process you have to collect the grab samples of raw effluent at least 3 times a day and analyze them one in early morning around 8:00 am, 2nd in afternoon and last in the evening. this will help you to get an idea about the peak value of organic content. Please don't depend on composite sample analysis because this analysis will give you just an average value and this analysis to not at all helpful to design a system.

    Major Parameters COD, TSS, O/G, dissolved sulfide, NO3, NH4, Total N & Total P. If possible please do BOD also but it takes long to get the results. With COD its possible to assess.

    Once you have done this please share the results with me I may help you because I have treated high COD effluent ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 mg/L value in the factories which you have mentioned.

  28. Dear Sergio

    "If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it". First you have to conduct analysis in order to evaluate the key parameters that will indicate the best choice of treatment for you. You need to evaluate at lest parameters such as COD, BOD, Total Nitrogen, TOC. You better do so for different periods in order to evaluate the variability. This is the first step.

    Pierre 

  30. Hello you have two approaches: the splitter solution currently on the market or the solution of biological treatment. These two solutions are diametrically opposed and not nothing to do to the other. everything will depend on the basic conditions.

    -Is that it is the community that will bring together all domestic wastewater and add wastewater producers of large mass of organic matter

    -Is - what are the producers of this organic mass that will purify their wastewater

    Then if this is the solution of biological treatment we can offer alternatives.

    From the point of view of collective sanitation by the divisive principle, there is no real solution since the mass of organic matter will be a major disadvantage: blockage as soon as production is very important.

    In the concept of a variable mass production of organic matter, biological purification takes totally.

    Only just predict a water treatment site that will be adapted to the obviously most important production

    From the point of view of the purification solution organic it is simpler, cheaper, more efficient.

    But it's a different approach and it requires membership of the producers to the concept of biological treatment. Can they join the concept?

  31. Excellent question Sergio:  The goal of treating any waste, whole, grey water, or black water, is to return it to nature in its elemental/nutritional form. (foot print of Zero).  Adding any kind of chemical or expensive infrastructure automatically negate their co habitat status with nature.  (imagine you are in a generational space craft to another star system). Reuse everything insitu. The technology is available here and now.  I am very amused at all of the 1950's technology being suggested.  All you really need is the correct microbe from nature to do the job and follow basic parameters in the microbial bioremediation world.

  32. Dear Sergio,

    The question is so open ended. If you come up with specific industry even in foods, there are many type of industry discharging different pollution loads. Confectionery, Can Foods, Syrups etc. Poultry and Meat has different Discharge Loads. 

     

    The high pollution load say BOD 2000+ and COD 6000+ normally good to be treated by the Scheme

    Scheme 1: Anaerobic Digestor (Reactor)----->Chemical Treatment (may or may not)---->Aerobic Treatment----->Post Filtration (Depends upon output requirement)

    Scheme 2: Anaerobic Treatment (Reactor)------>Aerobic Treatment------>Post Filtration

    Scheme 3: Chemical Treatment ----> 2 Stage Aerobic Treatment ----->Post Filtration

     

    The treatment scheme depends many factors, some listed as 

    Inlet Pollution Load Vs Outlet Parameter requirement

    Type of Pollution Load, easily Biodegradable or slow biodegradable or Major part Chemically Precipitated Out or Biologically Degradable

    2 Comments

    1. I agree, The rule of thumb cut off value is 2000 BOD which i use. Less than 2000, use aerobic systems like activated sludge of fixed film technologies. Greater than 2000 is a candidate for anaerobic treatment. There are many anaerobic alternatives including low rate and high rate like USAB and MFT. To  reuse water follow activated sludge treatment call secondary effluent by with a multi-media or micro filtration the RO. Anaerobic may need an activated sludge and then membrane and RO. Post secondary depends upon water quality needed.

       

    2. Bonjour 

      La quantité de la masse de matière organique qui entre sur une STEP ressort automatiquement sous la forme de résidus boueux. S'il y avait de la digestion anaérobie , de l'abattement par le chimique, il n'y aurait pas besoin de la filtration.  

      S'il y avait du traitement anaérobiec dans le réacteur puis du traitement aérobie avec un abattement réel d'épuration il n'y aurait pas besoin de la filtration.

      S'il y avait un traitement  chimique puis ensuite une traitement aérobic avec un abattement réel d'épuration il n'y aurait pas besoin de la filtration.

      Ensuite comme expliquer qu'un effluent aérobic puisse subir un traitement anaérobic? par quel miracle? quelle est la méthode? quels sont les résultats de performance?

      Ensuite comment peut-on expliquer que derrière un traitement chimique on puisse faire un traitemetn aérobic?PAr quel miracle ?

      En quoi peut bien consister le traitement aérobic? quel est l'outil ?

       

      Hello

      The quantity of the mass of organic matter that enters a STEP is automatically in the form of muddy residue. If there is anaerobic digestion of the abatement by the chemical there would not need filtration.  

      If there is the processing of anaerobiec in the reactor then the aerobic treatment with a reduction of treatment he would not need filtration.

      If there was a chemical treatment and then an aerobics with a real reduction treatment sewage there would not need filtration.

      Then as we explain that an aerobic effluent can undergo anaerobic treatment? What miracle? What is the method? What are the performance results?

      Then how can we explain that behind a chemical treatment we can do an aerobic traitemetn? What miracle?

      In what may well be the aerobic treatment? What is tool?