How Does Your Business Tackle Wastewater Solids
The solids present in your wastewater depends on the processes conducted in your business. It is, therefore, crucial to examine the contaminants present in the water to determine the appropriate methods of treatment and also the consequences of leaving the wastewater untreated. Since what works for another company may not work for you, it is best to find a method that is specific to you.
Classifications of Wastewater Solids
Wastewater solids occur in various forms. Based on the process of treatment, here are the two categories of wastewater solids.
Raw Wastewater
Raw wastewater solids appear in two forms, total suspended and dissolved solids. Water is an excellent solvent, and it quickly picks impurities; 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) comprises of tiny organic and inorganic particles like grease, fats, and oil. 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.
The generation of sludge yield/ biological solids occurs through the conversation of organic material, BOD5 into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, which can then be thickened and utilized as compost amendment, transported offsite, or applied to land.
Tips for Wastewater Treatment
Proper management of wastewater significantly contributes to the overall functioning of your industrial or manufacturing business. Ignoring sewage treatment makes your business susceptible to lawsuits and renders your employees and the neighboring residents prone to diseases. It is, therefore, paramount to take the exercise seriously for the wellbeing of every stakeholder.
It is paramount to understand the way your businesses use water to manage the costs of handling waste efficiently. Minimizing waste is the initial step in ensuring that you reduce the costs of treating wastewater. Gather the necessary data, including the amount of water coming in/out before choosing a treatment method.
Once you complete the analysis of the waste, it allows you to target processes that lower the levels of wastewater in your premises. Some of the waste produced may also generate some 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
The 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, and it is done by suspending and allowing heavy/insoluble particles from the water to sit at the bottom then isolate the pure water.
Aeration is also an effective method that involves providing the water with oxygen through air circulation. You can also filter the water to remove all the contaminants, including grease. Filters come in various types and sizes so you can choose from the ones available in the market 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 present in the water. You can either perform aerobic, anaerobic and composting procedures.
Aerobic uses bacteria to decompose and convert the organic substance into carbon dioxide using oxygen. Anaerobic does not require oxygen as it involves the fermentation of the waste at specific temperatures. Composting consists of the treatment of the water by combining it with sawdust and other carbon substance.
Chemical Water Treatment
The commonly used chemical in water treatment is Chlorine; it is an oxidizing substance that kills bacteria. Neutralization is an effective method in 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
It is a method used to separate solids from liquids, and it often incorporates analysis systems like bacteriological, chromatography, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. In the solid phase, the minimal amount of residual moisture while the isolated liquid stage must have the least solid molecule residue. You can use a device like a centrifuge to remove solid substances from the wastewater.
Knowledge of your plant, understanding the basics of management, and being proactive ensures that you successfully handle wastewater solids.