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Grey water biodegradability
Lina Abu Ghunmi1, Grietje Zeeman, Manar Fayyad
1Water and Environment Research Study Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Lina.abughunmi@ju.edu.jo
Biodegradation
|July 27, 2010
Summary
This study analyzed greywater
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Engineering
Background:
- Greywater treatment requires understanding biodegradability of its components.
- Characterizing chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions is crucial for designing effective biological systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize COD fractions in dormitory greywater.
- To investigate factors affecting biodegradability.
- To determine maximum aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability and conversion rates.
Main Methods:
- Fractionation of greywater COD into suspended, colloidal, and dissolved forms.
- Biodegradation tests under varying incubation times, inoculum additions, and temperatures.
- Analysis of aerobic and anaerobic degradation kinetics.
Main Results:
- Dormitory greywater COD comprises 28% suspended, 32% colloidal, and 40% dissolved fractions.
- Incubation time, inoculum, and temperature significantly influence biodegradability.
- Dissolved COD exhibited the slowest degradation rate under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Maximum aerobic biodegradability reached 86% and anaerobic 70%.
- First-order conversion rate constants (k₂₀) were 0.119 day⁻¹ (aerobic) and 0.005 day⁻¹ (anaerobic).
- Temperature significantly impacts conversion rates, described by the Arrhenius relation.
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