Volatile organic acids in raw wastewater and in physico-chemical treatment

The purpose of the present study was to identify soluble organics, which comprise the high BOD remaining in the effluent from direct physico-chemical treatment of strong raw sewage. Salts of volatile organic acids were found to be the main constituents of the organic fraction remaining after chemical treatment and activated carbon adsorption. The fate of the volatile acids such as acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, isovaleric and hexanoic acids was followed in each stage of the physicochemical treatment.