Available Technologies for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

During the last three decades, environmental challenges related to the chemical and biological pollution of water have become significant as a subject of major concern for society, public agencies, and the industrial sector. Most home and industrial operations generate wastewater that contains harmful and undesirable pollutants. In this context, it is necessary to make continuous efforts to protect water supplies to ensure the availability of potable water. To eliminate insoluble particles and soluble pollutants from wastewaters, treatment technologies can be employed including physical, chemical, biological (bioremediation and anaerobic digestion), and membrane technologies. This chapter focuses on current and emerging technologies that demonstrate outstanding efficacy in removing contaminants from wastewater. The challenges of strengthening treatment procedures for effective wastewater treatment are identified, and future perspectives are presented.

Investigation of Biotransformation of 6:6 PFPiA into C6 PFPA during Anaerobic Digestion of Sludge

“…To briefly describe what occurs at each stage of the treatment process, during preliminary treatment larger matter and particles, as well as low density liquids and objects, are removed from the wastewater stream. This is done by using a combination of physical and chemical processes, as outlined in Table 1.1 [28][29][30][31][32] . An example of a chemical process that might occur during this step is the neutralization of the wastewater influent to ensure that when the treated wastewater is discharged into the environment, it has a potential of hydrogen (pH) of 7.0 27,28,31 .…”

“…This is done by using a combination of physical and chemical processes, as outlined in Table 1.1 [28][29][30][31][32] . An example of a chemical process that might occur during this step is the neutralization of the wastewater influent to ensure that when the treated wastewater is discharged into the environment, it has a potential of hydrogen (pH) of 7.0 27,28,31 .…”

“…In the case of lighter suspended matter and less dense liquids like oil, they float to the top of the chamber where they can be skimmed off. For heavier solids and suspended matter, they sink to the bottom of the chamber and are removed when most of the wastewater in the chamber is drained for further treatment 25,[27][28][29]31,32 .…”

“…In the case of aerobic treatment, oxygen is introduced into the wastewater either directly, (e.g., being pumped into the wastewater), or indirectly, (e.g., the natural dissolution of oxygen into the surface of a liquid). Examples of aerobic treatments with oxygen being supplied directly are activated sludge processes, moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR), fluidized bed bioreactors (FBBR), the integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process, and aerated lagoons 25,27,31,32 . Examples of aerobic treatments with oxygen being indirectly supplied are trickling towers, biotowers, rotating biological contactors (RBCs) 25,28,32 .…”

“…Anaerobic treatment processes are primarily used for the treatment of sludge or biosolids but can be used for treating wastewater as well. The anaerobic contact process, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB), and anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) are examples for different anaerobic treatment processes that can be used to break down any organic matter still present in the wastewater stream 25,28,31 .…”