A comparative analysis of the characteristics of a range of real and synthetic wastewaters

Synthetic wastewaters are widely used in many fields of wastewater research and operational management. However, few comparative studies have been conducted on the large number of published formulations. Eleven synthetic formulations simulating municipal wastewaters were selected based on their frequency of use, relative complexity, ease of formulation and cost and compared to two real municipal wastewaters. Synthetic wastewaters vary significantly in their compositions and characteristics, especially in terms of alkalinity, BOD K 1, SOUR, BODU, COD/BOD and C/N/P ratio, although they are portrayed as 'typical' in terms of characteristics and suitability for use. The pH, alkalinity and the presence of Ca and Mg should be considered in combination with the diluent used. Where the diluent is tap water, then the presence of treatment chemicals should also be considered. The effects of the micronutrients present are also an important factor. The study found that no single formulation is appropriate for all situations. Both the Syntho and Synthes formulations attempt to simulate real wastewater, whereas other formulations primarily act as readily biodegradable vectors for toxicity analyses, characterisation studies and treatment process evaluations. The criteria for choosing a particular synthetic wastewater very much depend on its intended application and require careful selection.