ABSTRACT
In this study, the performance of bench-scale EDR was evaluated using the samples taken from the 1st and the 2nd stage RO from the Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) plant in Eshtehard, Iran. The measurements indicated that original TDS of the aquifer brackish water was equal to 3,229-3,664 mg/L, whereas TDS of the 1st stage RO brine was between 5,500 and 7,700 mg/L, that TDS of the 2nd stage RO brine was in the range of 9,500-10,600 mg/L. A batch bench-scale EDR system of 12 l/h was used with a direct electric current at three different scenarios. In the first, the brine was fed at 20°C (as a reference regulated point). In the second, temperature (14, 20, 26.5°C), and in the third, voltage were changed (6, 12, 18, 24 V) to investigate their influences on performance of the EDR process, while the other operational parameters (feed flow rate, recovery ratio, quality of feed brine)were kept constant. Based on the data analysis using the ANOVA and DUNCAN tests for the second and third scenarios, it was observed that the optimum TDS removal efficiency of the EDR process can be at temperature of 26.5°C and voltage of 18 V. On the other hand, the successful performance of the bench-scale EDR in reducing the 29,000 mg/L TDS and the 45,000 µmhos/cm EC of the 2nd stage brine to 1,716 mg/L (TDS) and 2,640 µmhos/cm (EC) (at 26.5°C and 24V) could be considered as the main achievement of this research. Overall, the hybrid process RO-EDR-RO can be considered as the best technical, environmental and economical scenario for the development of Eshtehard Desalination Plant phase 2 at full scale.
Subject(s)
Water Purification , Filtration , Membranes, Artificial , Osmosis , Renal Dialysis , SaltsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Petrochemical wastewaters are highly polluting due to having various destructive materials such as aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metal ions. Therefore, they need to be treated before disposal to the environment. However, due to low biodegradability, applying common treatment methods such as activated sludge is not feasible for these wastewaters. METHODS: Photo-Fenton is an advanced oxidation process which was applied to promote the biodegradability of hardly-decomposable petrochemical wastewaters. The wastewater samples were provided by Maroon and Karoon petrochemical plants, located in Mahshahr, Iran. To design the experiments and analyze the experimental results, response surface method with four variables (input COD and TDS concentrations and injected a dosage of H2O2 and Fe2+) and four fixed parameters (temperature, pH, retention time, and UV power) were used. RESULTS: The ranges of input COD, H2O2, Fe2+ and TDS were 1000 to 2500 mg L- 1, 1000 to 4000 mg L- 1, 500 to 3000 mg L- 1, and 4500 to 11,500 mg L- 1, respectively. Average input BOD5/COD ratio was 0.09. These ranges and values were determined according to the quality of the raw wastewater and experimental design. Output BOD5/COD ratio was varying between 0.3 and 0.6, which declined with an increase of input COD. The results showed that the biodegradability of the industrial wastewater was promoted upon application of higher H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations. Meanwhile, TDS concentration had no significant effect on biodegradability of this wastewater. The following optimum conditions were resulted by evaluating the maximum efficiency of the reactor in enhancing the biodegradability of the wastewater: 1000 mg L- 1 input COD, 2668 mg L- 1 H2O2, 1655 mg L- 1 Fe2+, 8000 mg L- 1 TDS, 0.6 output BOD5/COD, 852 mg L- 1 output BOD5 and 939 mg L- 1 output COD. CONCLUSION: Photo-Fenton method is highly efficient for increasing the biodegradability of petrochemical wastewaters before applying biological wastewater treatment.
