Performance optimization of biological waste treatment by flotation clarification at a chemical manufacturing facility

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:250906

Kerecz, B J ^[1]; Miller, D R ^[2]

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1. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (United States)
2. Komline-Sanderson, Peapack, NJ (United States)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., utilizes a deep-tank activated sludge wastewater treatment system with a dissolved air flotation clarifier (DAF) to effectively treat amine wastes containing residual organics, ammonia-nitrogen and organic nitrogen. The bio-system, a deep tank aeration system, produces a high quality final effluent low in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonia and organic nitrogen, turbidity and total suspended solids. Prior to installing the DAF, treatment performance was at risk with a gravity clarifier. Waste treatment performance was jeopardized by poor settling bio-flocs and uncontrollable solids-liquid separation problems within the gravity clarifier. The solids settleability problems resulted primarily from mixed liquor nitrogen supersaturation degassing in the clarifier. As a result of the degassing, biomass floated on the gravity clarifier or overflowed the effluent weir. As a result of biomass loss periodically organic carbon and total Kjeldahl nitrogen loadings had to be reduced in order to maintain optimal food-to-mass ratios. As biomass levels dropped within the aeration basin, waste treatment performance was at risk and waste loads had to be decreased causing waste inventories to increase in storage tanks.

• OSTI ID: 250906
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507204--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
WASTE PROCESSING