Determination of the Removal Efficiency of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate Acids (LAS) in Fixed Bed Aeration Tank and Conventional Activated Sludge

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty Member of Environmental Health Eng., Faculty of Public Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences

2 Prof., Center of Environmental Research, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan

3 Assist. Prof., Center of Environmental Research, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan

4 Chemical Lab. Expert, Center of Environmental Research, Isfahan University Medical Sciences, Isfahan

5 Design Expert of Parsjooyab Company Consulting Eng., Isfahan

Abstract

Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate Acids (LAS) are one of the anionic surfactants that are produced and used in large quantities in different countries and find their way into the natural environment through sewer systems. These compounds may potentially cause environmental hazards in such surface waters as rivers. It is, therefore, necessary to remove as much of these compounds as possible by biological processes in wastewater treatment plants. For this purpose, four parallel biological reactors were constructed that used the conventional activated sludge and aeration tanks with fixed bed on the bench scale in order to evaluate the removal efficiency of LAS. The reactors were operated under conditions similar to domestic wastewater treatment plants. Parameters of interest were measured according to standard methods and ANOVA and T-test were used for the statistical analysis of the data. The results showed that aeration tanks with fixed beds yielded higher values of LAS and COD removal and air consumption compared to the conventional activated sludge system. It was shown that the two systems studied achieved LAS removal efficiencies of 96% and 94% for an influent LAS concentration of 5 mg/L. Further, it was found that the effluents from both systems satisfied water quality standards for discharge into surface waters (
 

References

1- Imandel, K. (1996). Disinfectants and their application in environmental health, Ayeneh Pub., Tehran.
(In Persian)
2- Ebrahimi, A. (2007). “A Study of the removal efficiency of linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate (LAS) in fixed bed aeration tank and conventional activated sludge.” M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. (In Perisan)
3- Torben, M. D. (2001). Environmental and health assessment of substance in household detergents cosmetic detergent products, Environmental Proj. No.615, Danish EPA, D.K.
4- Eichorn, P., Rodrigues, S.V., Baumann, W., and Knepper, T. P. (2002). “Incomplete degradation of linear alkylbenzen sulfonate surfactant in Brazilian surface waters and pursuit of their polar metabolites in drinking waters.” Sci.Total Envirn., 284, 123-134.
5- Dabiri, M. (1997). Environmental Pollution, air, water, soil, sound, 1st Ed., Ettehad Pub., Tehran. (In Persian)
6- Simco Engineering Group. (2005). Technical memorandum No. 2: Secondary treatment option initial review, Class Environmental Assessment Report, Canada.
7- Scott, M. J., and Jones, M. N. (2002). “The biodegradation of surfactant in the environment.” Biochemical Act., 15(8), 235-251.
8- Paiter, H. A., and Zabel, T. (1989). “The behavior of LAS in sewage treatment.” Tenside Surfactants Detergents, 26, 108-115.
9- Chunlong, Z. (2007). Fundamentals of environmental sampling and analysis, 1st Ed., John Wiley and Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
10- Perkowski, J., Jozwiak, W., Kos, L., and Stajszczyk, P. (2006). “Application of fenton reagent in detergent separation in highly concentrated water solutions.” J. of Fibers and Textiles in Eastern Europ, 14 (5), 59-64.
11- Kowalska, I.(2008). “Surfactant removal from water solutions by means of ultrafiltration and ion exchange.” Desalination, 221, 351-357.
12- Scott, M. J., and Jones, M. N. (2000). “The biodegradation of surfactant in the environment.” J. of Bochimical Act., 15 (8), 235-251.
13- Part, D., Ruiz, F., Vasquez, B., and Rodiques Pastor, M. (1997). “Anionic and nonionic surfactant in a wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic digestion a comparative study.” Water Res., 31(8), 1925-1930.
14- Ministry of Energy. (2003). Potable water standard, Tehran.
15- EPA. (2004). List of drinking water contaminate and MCLs,Environmental Protection Agency,USA.
16- Iran Environment Protection Department. (1998). Environmental requlations and standard, Iran Environment Protection Dept. Pub., Tehran. (In Persian)
17- APHA. AWWA. WEF. (1995). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19thEd.,USA.
18- Hach Company. (2000). Water analysis handbook, USA.
19- Michael, L., William, E., James, P., and John, E. (1996). “Environmental monitoring for linear alkyl benzene  sulfon dialkylteralin sulphonate and their biodegrading intermediates.” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 15(3), 233-240.
20- Simcoe Engineering Group. (2004). Technical memorandum, No.2-Draft, 161.03.
21- Mahvi, A. H., Alavi Nakhjavan, N., and Naddafi, K. (2004). “A Survey on detergent removal in Qods township wastewater treatment plant based on activated sludge method.” J. of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, 10(2), 36-42. (In Persian)
Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab ( in persian )
Volume 22, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Serial number:77
March 2011
Pages 49-56

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics