Treat the Compounds
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Treat The Compound
You might be wondering, how does it all come together?
Understanding the compounds and chemistry of the effluent and how they behave during oxidation is fundamental to designing a wastewater treatment plant that effectively and efficiently removes contaminants, complies with regulations, and minimizes environmental impact. It also supports the sustainable management of resources and ensures the safety of the WWTP operators and surrounding communities. Wastewater characterization involves determining the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the effluent. Here are the steps and methods we typically use to characterize a wastewater stream:
1. Sampling
At first we collect representative samples of the wastewater. If not available for the greenfield project along with the end-user it is generated at laboratory level. Physical Parameters:
Flow Rate:
We measure not only the total flow rate, but also the mean and median flows to establish shock load handling capability in the WWTP to be designed.
Temperature:
Effluent Receiving, Operating & Ambient Temperatures around the plant where the WWTP is to be established are noted. This bears relevance to not only system design but also equipment MOC’s and equipment throughput capacities.
Color, Odor & Turbidity:
These provide initial clues about the stages where pretreatment, disinfection and polishing of the wastewater is to be done
Existing V/s New Installation:
Determining whether the above flow rates are from existing installation or from an upcoming expansion or a new fresh requirement
2. Chemical Parameters
PH
Effluent receiving pH, Operating pH and control pH ranges are established by process simulations.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS):
Quantification of the concentration of suspended particles and their particulate size distribution.
Pathogens
Assess the presence of resilient bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, which may require targeted & omnipotent disinfection.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD):
Establishing receiving, operating and output COD:BOD ratios to establish staging of biodegrability.
Heavy Metals:
Determine the presence and concentration of heavy metals, which can be toxic as well as interfering elements during forced oxidation reactions.
Organic Compounds:
Identify specific organic salts & compounds present in the wastewater that can be separated by acid-base extraction techniques.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) & Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N)
Quantification the amount of molecular high potential oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic, inorganic & nitrogenous matter in the effluent and contingency planning for any transtionary and transitory compounds as oxidative products.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Quantify the concentration of dissolved solids at receiving, operating and output levels which can impact the design and operating criteria for downstream desalination units.
3. Process Simulation & Data Analysis
Analyze the data obtained from treatability studies to establish plant level operations, the wastewaters’ in-situ characteristics, including system vulnerabilities.
4. Regulatory & Re-use Requirements:
Ensuring that the treated water characterization aligns with regulatory or re-use requirements and standards.
5. Pilot Testing
As a means of bolstering confidence, it may be prudent to conduct pilot-scale testing on the end-user site, which would help ascertain the wastewater treatment process’s effectiveness.
What is the objective of this approach?
1) Regulatory Compliance:
First to be specified here is ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations regarding discharge limits for specific contaminants.
2) Flow Rate and Variation:
Established WWTP capacity to treat average and peak flow rates of wastewater with ability to handle variations in mean flow.
3) Establishing a Truly Advanced - Automated - Reliable Treatment Process:
Establishing of a marvel process that rids the need to “manage” the situation at the end of the day. Peace of mind to WWTP operators as well as Production personnel so that both can co-exist.
4) Solids Handling made Easy:
Established WWTP capacity to treat average and peak flow rates of wastewater with ability to handle variations in mean flow.
5) Infrastructure Design:
Apt, corrosion-resistant and minimalistic infrastructure that are appropriate for the specific compounds in the effluent.
6) Energy Efficiency:
Optimized design for energy efficiency, considering the energy requirements of various treatment processes with explored opportunities for energy recovery.
7) Monitoring and Control:
Robust monitoring and control system implemented to continuously assess the performance of the WWTP and adjust treatment processes as needed.
8) Operator Delight & Safety:
Our systems are well appreciated by WWTP operators not only for their ease of handling but also for the safety interlocks provided in the system.
9) Long-Term Sustainability:
Considered resilience to climate change, production dynamics and changes in waste water composition.
10) Environmental Impact:
Our plants come after assessment of the potential environmental impact from the WWTP, including the discharge of treated effluent, volatile emissions and the disposal of residual solids. They come with prior implemented measures to mitigate adverse effects.
11) Economic Feasibility:
First time users may be disappointed, but WWTP owners with past experience would infer that the cost of building, operating, and maintaining our Advanced WWTP’s appropriated with the benefits and regulatory compliance they bring with them relative to their conventional installations are economically logical in the long run.