Evaluation of a laboratory-scale biological process for the treatment of edible oil effluent

Abstract

The discharge of poor quality effluents by the edible oil refining industry in South Africa is posing a serious threat to water sources and wastewater treatment installations alike. The main objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of a laboratory-sc ale activated sludge treatment process in producing a final effluent conforming to regulatory standards with regards to COD and phosphate loads. The study was conducted in three principal stages: waste characterisation; treatability studies and laboratory-scale investigations. After analysing various raw effluent parameters, treatability studies were conducted using an anaerobic/aerobi c sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The results showed 75% influent COD (S ti) reduction and more than 90% removal of oils and suspended solids. Based on the results from waste characterisation and treatability studies, a continuous laboratory-scale nutrient removal system was designed. The reactor was operated on a fed-batch basis for 15 d resulting in 70% S ti and 4% phosphate reduction.

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