Padalkar, Ashwini V. and Kumar, Rakesh (2018) Removal mechanisms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from effluent of common effluent treatment plant (CETP). Chemosphere, 199. pp. 569-584. ISSN 0045-6535, ESSN: 1879-1298

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Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence, removal and influence of plant-operating conditions on removal mechanisms of 83 VOCs in different treatment units of a CETP in Mumbai, treating industrial waste on primary and secondary level. A mass balance approach was used to predict VOC removal by volatilization, stripping, weir drop, adsorption, and biodegradation. Results indicate that ~17% of VOCs were removed by stripping in equalization tank and ~8% were removed by weir drop in primary clariflocculator respectively. Biodegradation was the dominant mechanism in aeration tank and was relatively poor for hydrophobic compounds which were more vulnerable to removal by stripping. Stripping rates could be reduced by increasing the active biomass concentration and using fine pore diffusers to reduce the air/effluent ratio. Decrease in Henry's constant and compound concentration can shift the main removal mechanism from stripping to biodegradation. Results also show considerable agreement between measured (71.2%) and predicted (67.1%) total removal, especially in aeration tanks. Equalization tanks (actual, 20.5%, predicted, 16.9%), primary clari-flocculator (actual, 14.2%, predicted, 7.7%), and secondary clarifier units (actual, 29.5%, predicted, 16.8%) showed fairly acceptable differences in measured and predicted removal. The effect of other mechanisms on VOC removal need to be further explored owing to their major contribution to VOC removal. This study is the first attempt in understanding the mechanisms behind the removal of VOCs in each treatment unit, especially equalization tanks and clarifier units, which have been severely underestimated till date.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biodegradation; CETP; Stripping; VOC; Volatilization; Weir Drop
Subjects:	Environmental Management Water Treatment
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Mr. RK Lohiya
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2019 09:50
Last Modified:	17 May 2019 07:18
URI:	http://neeri.csircentral.net/id/eprint/1210

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