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Investigation of Petroleum Refinery Effluent Treatment in an Aerobic Fixed-film Biological System |
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| Authors: | M F HAMODA PhD A A AL-HADDAD PhD |
| Affiliation: | Department of Civil Engineering, and Dr Al-Haddad is an assistant Professor Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University. |
| Abstract: | T he feasibility of treating a synthetic toxic waste and a petroleum refinery effluent was evaluated using a four-stage, fixed-film aerated bioreactor with a 50 I capacity and a surface area-to-volume ratio of 72. The process performance at various waste strengths and influent flow rates was found satisfactory. Organic loading proved to be a better operational or design parameter. Treatment efficiency decreased as the loading was increased. An organic loading of 42 g COD/m2d or less is recommended to ensure good quality effluent. The reactor coped with organic and hydraulic overloads because of the good oxygen transfer capacity and the considerable quantity of attached biomass attained. Staging of the reactor was effective in damping excessive loadings. Treatment of the refinery waste in the bioreactor removed up to 80 per cent of the COD and reduced the oil, sulphide and amm.N concentrations substantially, but polishing of reactor effluent using alum treatment improved effluent quality for potential reuse. |
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