Tertiary Treatment, Chemical

Processes & Advance Treatment

Tertiary Treatment
Further removal of suspended and dissolved
contaminants, not normally removed by
conventional treatment.

Treated Wastewater Effluent Contains

BOD

(biochemical oxygen demand)

Carbon matter, depletes O2, causes biomat growth

TSS

(total suspended solids)

NH3

(ammonia)

NO3

(nitrate)

Depletes O2

Toxic to fish, depletes O2, a nutrient that promotes biol. growth

Toxic to babies, drinking water regulated, a nutrient

TP

(total phosphorus)

A nutrient

Pathogens

(bacteria/viruses)

Disease causing

Why is tertiary treatment needed?

To better protect public health and

environment
Continued increase in population
Limited water resources
Contamination of both surface and
groundwater

Removal of Residual
Constituents
Suspended Solids Removal
Nutrients Removal
Toxic compounds
Dissolved organics and inorganics

Suspended Solids Removal

1. Tertiary granular filtration can be used to remove

relatively large solids and upgrade effluent quality
2. Membrane filtration removes particles by physical
straining and depending on media porosity, has the ability
to remove bacteria, viruses and dissolved solids.
3. Microfiltration can remove Giardia and Cryptosporidium
cyst.
4. Reverse Osmosis can be used to remove viruses and
reduce dissolved solids.

Nutrients Removal
Basic nutrients present in the domestic
wastewater are:
Nitrogen (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)
Phosphorus (soluble and insoluble)
Sulfate
Other compounds of nitrogen & phosphorus

Problems associated with nutrients

presence in wastewater are:
accelerate the eutrophication
stimulate the growth of algae & rooted aquatic
plants
aesthetic problems & nuisance
depleting D.O. concentration in receiving waters
toxicity towards aquatic life
increasing chlorine demand
presenting a public health hazard
affecting the suitability of wastewater for reuse

Phosphorus Removal

Biologically:
Key to the biological phosphorus removal is the
exposure of the microorganisms to alternating
anaerobic & aerobic conditions

Chemically:
Commonly used chemicals are
alum, sodium aluminate, ferric chloride, ferric
sulfate, lime, and etc.

3 Different Disinfection Process

Chlorination
UV light radiation
Ozonation

Chlorination

Most common
Advantages: low
cost & effective
Disadvantages:
chlorine residue
could be harmful
to environment

UV light radiation

Damage the genetic

structure of bacteria,
viruses and other
pathogens.
Advantages: no
chemicals are used
water taste more
natural
Disadvantages: high
maintenance of the
UV-lamp

Ozonation
Oxidized most pathogenic microorganisms
Advantages: safer than chlorination
kills bacteria effectively.
Disadvantage: high cost and the treatment requires
energy in the form of electricity.