Lecture 3: Wastewater

Characteristics
Wastewater Treatment
How human make use of nature

Physical, chemical & biological

characteristics of wastewater
Physical properties
Temperature
Color
Odor
Turbidity
Solids

Chemical constituents

Biological constituents

Organic Proteins,
carbohydrates, fats, oil
& grease, pesticides,
phenols, surfactants,
VOC, organic priority
pollutants.
Inorganic pH,
chlorides, alkalinity,
Chlorides, nitrogen,
phosphorus, heavy
metals.
Gases N2, O2, CO2,
H2S, NH3, CH4

Pathogenic organisms
(1) Bacteria
(2) Viruses
(3) Protozoa
(4) Helminths

APHA 22 edition
Standard Methods for
the Examination of
Water and
Wastewater
Standard measurement for
2000 Physical & aggregate
properties
4000 Inorganic metallic
constituents
5000 Aggregate organic
constituents
9000 Microbial
Examination
https://www.standardmethod
s.org/

Physical
Properties

Temperature

Definition:
Indirect parameter to evaluate drinking water and wastewater, but very important for
natural surface water.
Source:
(1) Ambient temperature.
(2) Disposal of hot industrial wastewater (i.e. POME disposal at 90C)
Impact:
(1) Affect aquatic life (i.e. warm water accelerate algae growth) and suitability for
beneficial uses.
(2) Affect settling characteristics of water processes (i.e. mixing, sedimentation).
(3) Temperature will affect water physical properties (i.e. viscocity, density, gas solubility)
and reaction rates (i.e. biological, chemical).
(4) DO reduction as temperature increased (Whipple DO data).
Measurement:
(1) In-situ temperature probe.
Application:
40C (Standard A and B of EQA 1974) for sewage, industrial and leachate discharge.

In-situ temperature probe

Physical
Properties

(1)
(2)
(3)

(4)

(1)
(2)

(1)

Color

Definition: Pure water is colorless. Natural waters colored by impurities. Apparent color
caused by suspended solids (SS). True color caused by dissolved solids after SS removal.
Source:
Yellowish chocolate color of natural water when natural waters mixed with tannins,
humic acid found in decaying leaves.
Reddish color from underground caused by the presence of iron oxide.
Wastewater changed color from gray to dark gray and ultimately black due to the
formation of metallic sulfides, as the sulfides produced anaerobically reacted with metals
in wastewater.
Some other colors (i.e. red blood) might caused by the constituents in industrial
wastewater.
Impact:
Aesthetically, colored waters are unacceptable.
May cause carcinogenic or mutanogenic (DNA altering) due to chlorinating the organic
compounds that caused the colorings.
Measurement:
Comparative method with standard color solution. Unit: TCU (True Color Unit), Hazen.
Application: 100 ADMI (Standard A) and 200 ADMI (Standard B) for industrial and leachate
discharge. None in sewage discharge.

Lovibond Color Comparator

Physical
Properties

Odor

Definition: Unpleasant smell.

Source:
(1) Decomposition of organic matter (i.e. due to H2S produced by anaerobic
microorganisms to reduce sulfate to sulfide).
(2) The existence of compounds that produce odor when react with another
compound (i.e. additive impact when chlorines react with organic matter).
Impact:
(1) Dislike and unpleasantness for customers.
(2) Indicator for carcinogens.
Measurement:
(1) Olfactometers direct reading instruments.
(2) TON (Threshold Odor Number) test. TON corresponds to the greatest dilution of
the sample with odor free water at which an odor is just perceptible. TON = 3 is
recommended by Public Health Services, US.
(3) ED50 = Number of times an odorous air sample must be diluted before the
average person can barely detect an odor in the diluted sample.
Application:
TON = 3 is recommended by Public Health Services, US. Not regulated in EQA 1974.

Odorous compound

Odor, quality

Amines

Fishy

Ammonia

Ammoniacal

Diamines

Decayed flesh

Hydrogen Sulfide

Rotten eggs

Mercaptans (e.g. methyl and ethyl)

Decayed cabbage

Mercaptans (e.g. T=butyl and crotyl)

Skunk

Organic sulfides

Rotten cabbage

Skatole

Fecale matter

Odorous compounds associated with untreated

wastewater.

Physical
Properties

Turbidity

Definition: A measure of the light-transmitting of water.

Source:
(1) Erosion of colloidal materials (i.e. clay, stone chirping).
(2) Colloids and flocs caused by soap and emulsifying agents.
Impact:
(1) Give a picture of milk (i.e. Tyndall effect).
(2) Cause taste and smell problems.
(3) Provide conducive environment for pathogenic microorganisms.
(4) Create problems to the other processes (i.e. disinfection of turbid water is very
difficult and costly).
Measurement:
(1) Photometric method by measuring percent light from intensity absorbed or
dispersed. Unit: JTU (Jackson Turbidity Unit), NTU (Nephelometry Turbidity Unit),
FTU (Formazin Turbidity Unit).
Application:
AWWA (American Water Works Association) limits of 0.1 FTU for drinking water. Not
regulated under EQA 1974.

What is Tyndall effect?

Tyndall effect can be observed when

sunlight passes through the canopy
of a dense forest. In the forest, mist
contains tiny droplets of water,
which act as particles of colloid
dispersed in air.

Turbidity meter

Coagulation & flocculation experiment using Jar test to

determine chemical coagulant dosage for minimum turbidity
(clear water).

Physical
Properties

Solids

Definition: All the matter in wastewater that remains as residue upon evaporation at
103 to 105C.
Source:
(1) Contain organic/inorganic particulates i.e. biological solids such as algal cell, bacteria.
Impact:
(1) Undesirable due to its bitter taste.
(2) Will provide adsorption site for chemical/biological agents.
(3) Some solids may be pathogenic organisms causing diseases.
Measurement:
(1) Total solids burning them at 103 to 105C.
(2) Settleable solids settling them in Imhoff cone in a 60-minute period.
(3) Filterable solids filtering them through a glass-fiber filter (Whatman GF/C) with pore
size of 1.2 m.
(4) Volatile solids burning them in furnace at 550C.
Application:
50 mg/L SS (Standard A, EQA 1974) and 100 mg/L (Standard B) for sewage, industrial and
leachate discharge.

Chemical
Constituents

Organic Matter

Definition:
(1) Composed of a combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus and iron
may also be present.
(2) OM exists in a form of protein, carbohydrates, fats, oils & grease, surfactants, organic priority
pollutants, VOCs, pesticides, phenols.
(3) Two main components (a) easily degradable (b) not easily degradable (i.e. refractory, recalcitrant)
(4) Easily degradable organics through (a) utilization as food by microorganisms (b) oxidation (c)
reduction (d) aerobic processes (e) anaerobic processes
Source:
(1)
Originated from plants and animal.
(2)
Synthesis of organic compounds.
Impact:
(1)
Contaminate the receiving waters.
Measurement:
(1) BOD Test (2) COD Test (3) TOC (Total Organic Carbon) Test (4) SOUR Test
Application:
(1) 20 mg/L BOD and 120 mg/L of COD (Standard A, EQA 1974) and 50 mg/L BOD and 200 mg/L COD
(Standard B) for sewage discharge.
(2) 20 mg/L BOD (Standard A, EQA 1974) and 50 mg/L BOD (Standard B) for industrial discharge.
(3) 20 mg/L BOD and 400 mg/L COD (Standard B) for leachate discharge.

What are organic matters?

Proteins (40-60%)
The combination of a large number of amino acids.
Contains C, H, O and N. Thus, major source of nitrogen in wastewater.
If present abundantly, produce extremely foul order during decomposition.
Fats,oils & grease (10%)

Carbohydrates (25-50%)
Include sugars, starches, cellulose and wood fibers.

Grease are from shops, garages and

streets.

Contains C, H and O.

Surfactants
Mainly from
synthetic
detergent.

Org. Priority
Pollutants
Either
carcinogenic,
mutagenic,
teratogenic or
acute toxic.

Fats & oils are from the foodstuffs.

VOCs

Organic compounds
that have a boiling
point < 100C or a
vapor pressure
>1mm Hg (i.g. vinyl
chloride).

Pesticides

Phenols

From
agricultural
and parks
surface runoff.

Mainly
from
petroleum
products.

COD
test

BOD
test
TOC
test

SOUR
test

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

BOD test
Measure O2 utilized from sample placed in air tight containers and kept in
incubator for specified number of days.
BOD bottles with size 300 mL are used, incubated at 20C for 5 days.
BOD520 BOD at temperature 20C for 5 days.
Require (i) oxygen-saturated water during aeration (ii) require seeding of
microorganism in wastewater samples
Presence of toxic matters may inhibit microorganism activity. Therefore,
BOD results may be inaccurate.
BOD calculation
( )
=

= initial DO
= final DO
= Decimal fraction of sample in 300 mL bottle

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The measurement of the dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms
in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter.
5-day BOD biodegradation is only 60-70% complete.
20-day BOD about 95-99% complete.
Assumption: BOD degradation according to first order.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

= remaining BOD at t=0 @

ultimate BOD
= remaining BOD at time t

=
Thus, 5-day BOD means 5
=
= ( )
= of wastewater

K value dependent of temperature

= ()
= reaction rate constant at
temperature T
= 1.056

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Analysis Of BOD data is used to
evaluate and ultimate BOD
values for design purposes.
Using least square method or
Excel
Observe these two functions.
1
at which
3

= 1
6

After expansion and simplification

3

= 1
6
Or, in linear form
1
3

2
3

6 1/3

t +

Y axis =
X axis =
Slope =

2
3

6 1/3

Y interception =

1/3

1/3

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

COD test
Used to measure the organic matter in industrial and municipal
wastewater that contain compounds that are toxic to biological life.
The oxygen equivalent of organic matter that can be oxidized is
measured by using a strong chemical oxidizing agent (potassium
dichromate) in an acidic medium.
The test must be performed at an elevated temperature.
A catalyst (silver sulfate) is required to aid the oxidation of certain
classes of organic compounds.
COD>BOD because more compounds can be chemically oxidized
than can be biologically oxidized.
BOD/COD varies from 0.4 to 0.8
+ 2 7 2 + + +3 + 2 + 2

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

TOC test
Is performed by injecting a known quantity of sample
into a high-temperature furnace or chemically oxidizing
environment.
The organic carbon is then oxidized to CO2 (measured
by infrared analyzer) in the presence of catalyst.
BOD/TOC varies from 1.0 to 1.6.
Not easily degraded organics = Lo (COD or TOC)
Examples of not easily degraded organics: tannin acid,
lignin, cellulose, part of wooded plant that is heat
resistance,phenol, benzene, alkyl benzene sulphonate
(ABS), insecticides, herbicides.

Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR)

SOUR test
An accepted method for indicating the biological activity of an activated sewage sludge mixed
liquor or aerobically digesting sludge.
Standard Method 2710B.
Measure O2 consumption rate of involved microbes.
Measurement Apparatus: Manometric or respirometric device.
Procedures: Measure initial DO and record DO level at every 1 minute or less, for 15 minutes
or until DO < 1 mg/L.
Limitation: Sludge has to be less or equal to 2% Total Solids (TS).
Data presentation: Plot DO (mg/L) vs time (min).
SOUR calculation
2
(
)

60(
)

( )

= specific oxygen uptake rate (

2
)
.

= Total Solids concentration ( )