APPLICATION OF ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESS FOR REDUCING THE VOLUME OF AN AERATION TANK OF A CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

Abstract

Iraqi government is actively promoting wastewater reclamation because of urgent water needs. Wastewater reuse is governed by stringent regulations to protect public health against waterborne diseases and any other adverse environmental effects. This study is aimed at determining the type and level of advanced treatment needed for effective treatment of 60000 m3.day-1 domestic wastewater of an Iraqi city without major modification of plant layout. An urgent request by the Iraqi government to implement nutrients and phosphorous removal units for an under construction project. Extensive investigations were carried out to size and add both Phosphorus & Nitrogen (P & N) removal units into the plant layout. Due to limitation of site land, it was found itself obliged to work on redesigning the aeration basin of the WWTP. The aeration basin consists of eight cells of (25x25x5) m3volume. The redesign approach adopted here involved two main objectives; one objective is to utilize part of the aeration basin as Phosphorus & Nitrogen (P & N) removal units while the second objective is to raise the efficiency of the aeration basin to handle the original influent with the remaining cells to deliver the standard effluent specifications. A cost effective study was carried out to use Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) based on Fenton's process to achieve both objectives mentioned above. Fenton's process using H2O2 to react with wastewater in the presence of Fe++ prior to the aeration tank resulted in considerable reduction of BOD entering the aeration tank. The study has revealed that AOP is effectively accomplishing the target, and reducing the volume of the aeration basin to less than 60% of its original volume (capacity). The cost analysis shows a cut in per unit cost from (0.17 $/m3) to (0.16 $/m3).