The solids that are present in your wastewater depend on the processes conducted in your business. It’s important to examine the contaminants present in the water so you can understand appropriate methods of treatment and the consequences of leaving the wastewater untreated. What works for another company may not work for you, so do extra research to find the perfect method.
Classifications of wastewater solids
Wastewater solids come in various forms. There are two main categories of wastewater solids.
Raw wastewater
Raw wastewater solids appear in two forms: total suspended and dissolved solids. Water is an excellent solvent. In its pure condition, it is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. However, it can pick dissolved solids, which include metals, minerals, anions, or cations.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprise inorganic salts, mainly potassium, calcium, chlorides, sodium, magnesium, sulfates and bicarbonates, and minimal amounts of organic matter. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are comprised of tiny organic and inorganic molecules like grease, oils, and fats. It is essential to remove most of these solids while performing the initial TSS wastewater treatment to make sure the biological purification flows effortlessly.
Biological solids
Commonly known as volatile suspended solids (VSS), biological solids occur during the process of aerobic/anaerobic treatment. VSS ignites in a muffle furnace at 550°C. Ignition of VSS gives a correct measure of the amount of VSS generated during biological treatment.
Sludge yield and biological solids are generated through the conversion of organic material, BOD5 into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. These can then be thickened and utilized as compost amendment, transported offsite, or applied to land.
Tips for wastewater treatment
Proper management of wastewater helps with the overall functioning of your industrial or manufacturing business. Ignoring sewage treatment makes your business susceptible to lawsuits. It can also make your employees and any neighboring residents prone to disease. That’s why it’s so important to take this seriously.
To manage the costs of handling waste, understand the way your businesses use water. Minimizing waste is the first step in ensuring that you reduce the costs of treating wastewater. Gather the necessary data, including the amount of water coming in and out, before choosing a treatment method.
Once you complete a waste analysis, you’ll be able to target processes to lower the levels of wastewater on your premises. Some of the waste produced may also generate revenue. For instance, grease, fat, and oil can serve as feedstock for a business that produces bioethanol.
Effective wastewater treatment methods
Wastewater technologies allow you to remove contaminants found in the water. The conventional ways of treating wastewater are:
Physical water treatment
This method incorporates processes such as sedimentation, screening, and skimming to get rid of solids. It does not include the use of chemicals. Sedimentation forms a considerable part of this method. It’s done by allowing heavy or insoluble particles from the water to sit at the bottom, and then isolating the pure water.
Aeration is also an effective method that involves providing the water with oxygen through air circulation. You can filter the water to remove all the contaminants, including grease. Filters come in various types and sizes. Choose from the ones available based on your needs, physical dimensions, flow rate, and size of particulates.
Biological water treatment
With this method, you use different biological processes to disintegrate organic matter like oils and human waste that are present in the water. You can either perform aerobic, anaerobic or composting procedures.
Aerobic uses bacteria to decompose and convert the organic substance into carbon dioxide using oxygen. Anaerobic doesn’t require oxygen, as it involves the fermentation of the waste at specific temperatures. Composting consists of treating the water by combining it with sawdust and other carbon substances.
Chemical water treatment
Chlorine is commonly used in chemical water treatment. It is an oxidizing substance that kills bacteria. Neutralization is an effective method for the industrial treatment of water. It involves adding a base or acid to revert the PH of the water to 7.
The use of chemicals makes the water pure by preventing bacteria from reproducing. The other oxidizing agent you can use is ozone. Additionally, you can lower the acidity of water using lime.
Sludge treatment
Sludge treatment is a method used to separate solids from liquids. It often incorporates analysis systems like bacteriological, chromatography, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. You can use a device like a centrifuge to remove solid substances from the wastewater.
You can successfully handle wastewater solids by knowing your plant, understanding waste management basics, and being proactive.
