Enhanced COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) Removal from Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using Powdered Activated Carbon Addition to an Activated Sludge System

摘要

Wastewater generated by the pharmaceutical manufacturing point source Sub-categories A (Fermentation Products) and C (Chemical Synthesis Products) are characterized by high COD concentrations (10,000 mg/l and higher). Plants in these subcategories typically employ secondary treatment to meet best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). However, COD levels in the effluent discharge usually remain quite high. The objective of the project was to demonstrate, through a continuous pilot plant study, the capability of powdered activated carbon technology to achieve additional COD reductions from pharmaceutical plant wastewater which has been treated biologically. Powdered activated carbon dosages of 208, 496, 327 and 1,520 mg/l were investigated. The paper will discuss these results as well as other important findings from the industrial wastewater research project.