Surrogate parameters for rapid monitoring of contaminant removal for activated sludge treatment plants for para rubber and seafood industries in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed at using surrogate parameters for rapid monitoring of contaminant removed of activated sludge treatment plant for para rubber and seafood industries in Southern Thailand. Wastewaters from these industries contain high organic concentrations and chemicals. The activated sludge process (AS) is usually applied as a treatment process. However, plant operators generally lack the understanding and means to control the treatment plants because of a continuous monitoring system is not employed and the monitoring parameters are time consuming. UV absorbency at various wavelengths was used in this study as a surrogate parameters, for predicting the removal capacity of each plant. COD, BOD, suspended solids and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations could be estimated reliably without being time consuming. The results showed that UV absorbency at 220 nm can be used as a parameter to predict nitrate-nitrogen concentrations which less than 15 mg/L. That at 550 nm is for predicting suspended solids concentration and that at 260 nm is for COD predict.

Keywords

• activated sludge process
• industrial wastewater
• surrogate parameter