Treatment of tapioca starch wastewater by a novel combination of physical and biological processes

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 1264 - 1270
• Main Authors: FETTIG, J, PICK, V, AUSTERMANN-HAUN, U, BLUMBERG, M, PHUOC, N. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London International Water Association 01.01.2013; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Anaerobic processes; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Artificial wetlands; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological activity; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bioreactors; Chemical oxygen demand; Cyanides; Cyanides - metabolism; Exact sciences and technology; Flotation; Food-Processing Industry; General purification processes; Industrial Waste; Manihot; Natural water pollution; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - metabolism; Organic matter; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; Phosphorus removal; Plants (botany); Pollution; Removal; Separation techniques; Sewage; Sludge; Sludge bed; Starch; Tapioca; Vertical flow; Vertical mixing; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Water; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water treatment and pollution; Wetlands; Water treatment; Flotation; anaerobic treatment; dissolved air flotation; Anaerobe; Artificial medium; tapioca wastewater; constructed wetland; Wetland; Waste water; Biological purification
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2013.354

A pilot plant combining dissolved air flotation, anaerobic degradation in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor and aerobic post-treatment in a vertical flow constructed wetland has been used to treat tapioca starch wastewater for more than 2.25 years. It is demonstrated that organic matter (chemical oxygen demand by >98%), nitrogen (Kjeldahl-N by >90%) and cyanide (total cyanide by >99%) can be removed very efficiently under stable operating conditions. The removal efficiency for phosphorus is lower (total-P by 50%). The treatment concept, which includes several sustainable aspects, e.g. production of energy to be used on-site, low operation demands and minimal use of chemicals, could be interesting for small- and middle-sized tapioca processing plants.