Applicability and Optimal Parameters Analysis for Chemical Phosphorus Removal in a Modified Carrousel Oxidation Ditch

Abstract

In order to confine the aqua-eutrophication problem arising from phosphorus pollution, many municipal wastewater treatment plants have to improve their executive drainage standard for total phosphorus (TP). In this study, a municipal wastewater treatment plant employing modified Carrousel oxidation ditch as main biological treatment unit was selected as a representative case. Technical necessity for adding a chemically enhanced phosphorus removal unit was analysed, and process feasibility was verified by batch and continuous experiments as well. The study results were summarized as follows. Because the organic carbon source in influent wastewater is not enough, it is impossible to satisfy the national drainage standard of TP by individual biological phosphorus removal processes, therefore, aided chemical phosphorus removal is essential. The polymeric aluminium chloride (PAC) is preferable to be used as precipitant for phosphorus removal. The molar ratio of agent dosage to TP removal is preferable to be about 2.0. Under these conditions, the effluent TP concentration can be lower than 1.0 mg l−1.

Keywords

• phosphorus
• polyaluminium chloride (PAC)
• dosage
• wastewater
• oxidation ditch