A novel multi-phase treatment scheme for odorous rubber effluent

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment
• Anaerobic Digestion

Background:

• Rubber latex production generates significant wastewater with high levels of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).
• Discharge of untreated rubber effluent poses a substantial threat to aquatic ecosystems due to its pollutant load.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate an integrated multi-phase treatment scheme for rubber processing wastewater.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor combined with coagulation-flocculation and aeration for liquid phase treatment.
• To assess the removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from the gas phase generated during anaerobic treatment.

Main Methods:

• Liquid phase treatment using an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor.
• Post-treatment of the liquid effluent via coagulation-flocculation and aeration.
• Gas phase treatment of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using a caustic scrubber.

Main Results:

• The integrated treatment achieved significant reductions in effluent pollutants: TKN (68-87%), TDS (61-69%), BOD (81-84%), and COD (81-87%).
• The caustic scrubber demonstrated a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal efficiency of 63 ± 5% from the UASB reactor's gas phase.
• The multi-phase approach proved effective in treating both liquid and gas effluents from rubber processing.

Conclusions:

• The combined UASB reactor, coagulation-flocculation, and aeration system is a viable and effective method for treating rubber processing wastewater.
• The study highlights the importance of integrated treatment strategies for managing complex industrial effluents.
• This approach offers a promising solution for mitigating the environmental impact of rubber production wastewater.