E3S Web of Conferences, open access proceedings in environment, energy and earth sciences

The treatment of humic rich water using anion exchange, coagulation and PAC-adsorption was studied, both independently and in sequence in that order. The commercial aluminium-based coagulant PAX-16, powdered activated carbon W35 and the magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX®) were used in the study. The source of humic substances was natural water (25.0 g C/m3 as DOC) flowing out from the Great Batorow Peat-Bog (Lower Silesia, Poland). In addition to DOC, color, UV254 absorbance, specific UV absorbance (SUVA254), turbidity, pH and alkalinity were also analyzed. Regardless of the applied technology, in the phase of raw water treatment extraordinary solutions were necessary to treat the humic rich water – a high coagulant (13.1 g Al/m3) or PAC (>200 mg/dm3) dose or a low bed volume (200 BVs) in the case of anion exchange. MIEX®DOC pretreatment had a very positive influence on the course and effects of coagulation resulting in a higher coagulant efficiency for removing organic compounds. In this respect, MIEX®DOC pretreatment allowed the application of a required coagulant dose four times lower compared to the coagulation of raw water. In testing the sequence of processes (MIEX®DOC – coagulation – PAC-adsorption), coagulation was the main process responsible for reducing the SUVA254 value. The improvement in water quality after PAC-adsorption was not significant, although the process removed DOC fractions that could not be removed by coagulation. Each of the applied methods played a role in the treatment of humic rich water and the nearly complete removal of NOM was achieved (in the sequence of processes) under relatively rational operating conditions for the treatment techniques.

The deficiency of readily biodegradable organic carbon can be a significant limitation to effective nitrogen removal during wastewater denitrification. Waste-activated sludge (WAS) is a source of carbon produced directly at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Raw WAS has a large molecular weight and complex chemical structure molecules that are not easily available for microorganisms. In this study, easily biodegradable organic fractions were released using pH control and/or nitrites and nitric acid (NO₂/FNA). The obtained results indicated that WAS can be a sufficient carbon source for denitrification in WWTPs that are at risk of minor effluent violations. The implementation of WAS disintegration with the use of pH control and NO₂/FNA allowed for the denitrification of an additional 0.5 and 0.8 mgN-NO₃/L. WAS disintegration, besides being a source of carbon generation, reduces the volume of sludge and leads to the implementation of a closed-loop system.