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Biological fluidized-bed treatment of wastewater from byproduct coking operations: Full-scale case history

Journal Article · · Water Environment Research

The Algoma Steel byproduct coke plant consists of three coke-oven batteries capable of producing approximately 3,000 t/d of coke. The source of the primary process wastewater from the coke plant is the excess flushing liquor or weak ammonia liquor produced during initial cooling of coke-oven gases. This raw liquor stream is directed to an ammonia still where ammonia is recovered through steam stripping. Wastewater is then directed to a biological treatment plant designed for phenolics removal. The biological treatment scheme used at Algoma is a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) system. Design of the system anticipated a median phenolic load of 1,117 kg/d, consisting of a phenolics concentration of 1,012 mg/L in the wastewater and a flow of 46.1 m{sup 3}/h (203 gpm). Nine days after start-up, the FBRs were receiving more than 40 m{sup 3}/h of wastewater containing 1,000 mg/L of phenolics and an approximately equal amount of clean mill water, added as dilution water for temperature control. Effluent from the system contained less than 5 mg/L phenolics. During a 6-week performance assessment of the system, which began approximately 2 weeks after process start-up, FBRs achieved more than 99% phenolics reduction based on diluted wastewater feed concentration. Approximately 5 weeks after process start-up, thiocyanate in the effluent was reduced to less than 5 mg/L, representing approximately 95% removal based on diluted wastewater feed concentration. At this time the biomass concentration, measured as volatile solids, in the FBRs was greater than 15 g/L.

OSTI ID:
323715
Journal Information:
Water Environment Research, Journal Name: Water Environment Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 71; ISSN WAERED; ISSN 1061-4303
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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