Biological removal of carbon and nitrogen compounds from coke plant wastes. [65 references]

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:7210240

Barker, J E; Thompson, R J

A one-year study of a biological process for treatment of coke plant ammonia liquor was conducted. The process was designed to remove carbon compounds and ammonia. The pilot plant consisted of three treatment systems arranged in series. These systems were designed for the removal of carbon compounds, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate (nitrification), and the reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas (denitrification). The study was jointly sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Armco Steel Corporation. The results indicate that the biological process can be used to remove carbon compounds and ammonia from dilute ammonia liquor. Treatment efficiencies obtained include removals of greater than 99.9 percent phenol, 80 percent COD and 90 percent ammonia. Removal efficiencies for cyanide and thiocyanate were less encouraging with averages of 57 and 17 percent, respectively. The inability to efficiently remove cyanide and thiocyanate raises a question as to the long range applicability of the process to existing and proposed water quality standards. A complete evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of the system was beyond the scope of this study. Additional development work would be required before the process could be considered for commercial application.

• Research Organization: American Iron and Steel Inst., New York
• OSTI ID: 7210240
• Report Number(s): EPA-R-2-73-167
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
AMMONIA
AROMATICS
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
COKE OVENS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CYANIDES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
STANDARDS
THIOCYANATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER QUALITY