Anaerobic bioflocculation of wool scouring effluent

Lapsirikul, W., Cord-Ruwisch, R. and Ho, G. (1994) Anaerobic bioflocculation of wool scouring effluent. Water Research, 28 (8). pp. 1743-1747.

Abstract

A two-stage anaerobic bioflocculation process (ABP) successfully flocculated a high grease (> 15 g/l) wool scouring effluent (WSE). During 110 days of continuous operation, a two-stage laboratory process removed between 70 and 90% grease and 60-86% COD at a combined hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 4-10 days. Grease removal was more difficult with low grease (< 10 g/l) WSE. At a HRT of 3 days a single-stage ABP removed 40 and 44% grease at 20 and 37°C, respectively. Methane production and volatile fatty acids consumption were negligible. Most of the grease was removed by flocculation as a result of anaerobic bacterial activity. The supernatant was successfully treated by an aerobic activated sludge process reducing grease concentration from about 1.5 to less than 0.1 g/l in the final effluent at an HRT of 3 days.

A two-stage anaerobic bioflocculation process (ABP) successfully flocculated a high grease (> 15 g/l) wool scouring effluent (WSE). During 110 days of continuous operation, a two-stage laboratory process removed between 70 and 90% grease and 60-86% COD at a combined hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 4-10 days. Grease removal was more difficult with low grease (< 10 g/l) WSE. At a HRT of 3 days a single-stage ABP removed 40 and 44% grease at 20 and 37°C, respectively. Methane production and volatile fatty acids consumption were negligible. Most of the grease was removed by flocculation as a result of anaerobic bacterial activity. The supernatant was successfully treated by an aerobic activated sludge process reducing grease concentration from about 1.5 to less than 0.1 g/l in the final effluent at an HRT of 3 days.