2.wastewater Constituents 8 Removed

2
2.1. Wastewater constituents
• The important constituents of concern in wastewater

treatment are listed below:
• 1. Suspended solids: can lead to development of sludge
deposits and anaerobic conditions when untreated wastewater
is discharged in the aquatic environment.
• 2. Biodegradable organics: composed principally of proteins,
carbohydrates, and fats, biodegradable organics are measured
most commonly in terms of BOD ( biochemical oxygen
demand) and COD ( chemical oxygen demand). if discharged
untreated to the environment, their biological stabilization
can lead to the depletion of natural oxygen resources and to
development of septic conditions.
• 3. Pathogens: communicable diseases can be transmitted by
the pathogenic organisms that may be present in wastewater.
• 4. Nutrients: Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with

carbon , are essential nutrients for growth. When
discharged to the aquatic environment, these nutrients
can lead to the growth of undesirable aquatic life. When
discharged in excessive amounts on land, they can also
lead to the pollution of groundwater.
• 5. Heavy metals: Are usually added to wastewater from
commercial and industrial activities and may have to be
removed if the wastewater is to be reused.
• 6. Dissolved inorganic: Inorganic constituents such as
calcium, sodium, and sulphate are added to the original
domestic water supply as a result of water use and may
have to be removed if the wastewater is to be reused.
2.2. Physical characteristics

1. Solids
• Wastewater contains a variety of solid materials varying from rags to
colloidal material. In the characterization of wastewater, coarse materials
are usually removed before the sample is analyzed for solids. The following
is the definition for solids found in wastewater:
• 1. Total solids (TS) : The residue remaining after a wastewater sample has
been evaporated and dried at a specified temperature (103 to 105 oC)
• 2. Total volatile solids (TVS) : Those solids that can be volatilized and
burned off when the TS are ignited (500 ± 50 oC)
• 3. Total fixed solids (TFS) : the residue that remains after TS are ignited
(500 ± 50 oC)
• 4. Total suspended solids : Portion of the TS retained on a filter with a
specified pore size, measured after being dried at a specified temperature
(105 oC).
• 5. Volatile suspended solids (VSS) : Those solids that can be volatilized
and burned off when the TSS are ignited (500 ± 50 oC)
5
• 6. Fixed suspended solids (FSS) : The residue that remains

after TSS are ignited (500 ± 50 oC)
• 7. Total dissolved solids (TDS) : Those solids that pass
through the filter, and are then evaporated and dried at
specified temperature. it should be noted that what is
measured as TDS is comprised of colloidal and dissolved
solids.
• 8. Total volatile dissolved solids (VDS) : Those solids that
can be volatilized and burned off when the TDS are ignited
(500 ± 50 oC)
• 9. Fixed dissolved solids (FDS) : The residue that remains
after TDS are ignited (500 ± 50 oC)
• 10. Settleable solids : suspended solids, expressed as
milliliters per liter, that will settle out of suspension within a
specified period of time
2. Turbidity
• Turbidity, a measure of the light-transmitting properties of
water, is another test used to indicate the quality of waste
discharges and natural waters with respect to colloidal and
residual suspended matter. The measurement of turbidity is
based on comparison of the intensity of light scattered by a
sample to the light scattered by a reference suspension under
the same conditions. The results of turbidity measurements
are reported as nephelometric turbidity units
(NTU). In general. there is no relationship between turbidity
and the concentration of total suspended solids in untreated
wastewater. There is, however, a reasonable relationship
between turbidity and total suspended solids for settled and
filtered secondary effluent from the activated sludge process.
3. Color
• Historically, the term ''condition'' was used along with composition
and concentration to describe wastewater. Condition refers to the
age of the wastewater, which is determined qualitatively by its color
and odor. Fresh wastewater is usually a light brownish gray color.
However, as the travel time in the collection system increases, and
the more anaerobic conditions develop, the color of the wastewater
changes sequentially from gray to dark gray, and ultimately to black.
When the color of the wastewater is black, the wastewater is often
described as septic. Some industrial wastewaters may also add color
to domestic wastewater. In most cases, the gray, and black color of
the wastewater is due to the formation of metallic sulfide, which
form as the sulfide produced under anaerobic conditions reacts with
the metals in the wastewater.
8
4. Absorption
• The absorbance of a solution is a measure of the
amount of light, of a specified wave-length, that is
absorbed by the constituents in a solution.
Absorbance is measured using a spectrophotometer.
This parameter is important in design of several
systems such as design of UV disinfection systems.
5. Temperature
• The temperature of wastewater is commonly higher than
that of the local water supply, because of the addition of
warm water from households and industrial activities.
The temperature of water is a very important parameter
because of its effect on chemical reactions and reaction
rates, aquatic life, and the suitability of the water for
beneficial uses. Increased temperature can cause a
change in the species of fish that can exist in the
receiving water body. Industrial establishments that that
use surface water for cooling-water purposes are
particularly concerned with the temperature of the
intake water.
10
• In addition, oxygen is less soluble in warm water than in cold water.

The increase in the rate of biochemical reactions that accompanies
an increase in temperature, combined with the decrease in the
quantity of oxygen present in surface waters, can often cause serious
depletions in dissolved oxygen concentrations in the summer
months. When significantly large quantities of heated water are
discharged to natural receiving waters, these effects are magnified.
Moreover, abnormally high temperatures can faster the growth of
undesirable water plants and wastewater fungus.
• Optimum temperatures for bacterial activity are in the range from
25oC to 35oC. Aerobic digestion and nitrification stops when the
temperature rises to 500C. When temperature drops to about 15oC,
methane-producing bacteria become quite inactive, and at about
5oC, the autotrophic-nitrifying bacteria practically stop functioning.
11
6. Conductivity
• The electrical conductivity (EC) of water is a measure of
the ability of a solution to conduct an electrical current.
Because the electrical current is transported by the ions
in solution, the conductivity increases as the
concentration of ions increases. In effect, the measured
EC value is used as an another measure of total dissolved
solids (TDS) concentration. At present, the EC of a water
is one of the important parameters used to determine the
suitability of a water for irrigation. The salinity of treated
wastewater to be used for irrigation is estimated by
measuring its electrical conductivity.
• The electrical conductivity in SI units is expressed as
millisiemens per meter (mS/m)
12
7. Density
• The density of wastewater is defined as its mass
per unit volume. Density is an important
physical characteristic of wastewater because of
the potential for the formation of density
currents in sedimentation tanks, chlorine
contact tanks, and other treatment units.
Density is a temperature-dependent and will
vary with the concentration of total solids in the
wastewater.
13
2.3. Inorganic constituents
• Inorganic chemical constituents of concern include

nutrients, nonmetallic constituents, metals, and gases.
Inorganic nonmetallic constituents in each wastewater
must include pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, alkalinity,
chlorides, and sulfur.
1. pH: The hydrogen-ion concentration is an important
quality parameter of both natural waters and
wastewaters. The usual means of expressing the
hydrogen-ion concentration is as pH, which is defined as
the negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion.
• pH = -log10 [H+]
• The pH of aqueous systems typically is measured with a
pH meter.
14
2. Alkalinity: Alkalinity in wastewater results from the

presence of the hydroxides [ OH-]. carbonates [CO3-2],
and bicarbonates [HCO3-] of elements such as calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, and ammonia. Of these,
calcium and magnesium bicarbonates are most common.
The alkalinity in wastewater helps to resist changes in
pH caused by the addition of acids. Wastewater is
normally alkaline, receiving its alkalinity from the water
supply, the groundwater, and the materials added during
domestic use. The concentration of alkalinity in
wastewater is important where chemical and biological
treatment is to be used.
15
2.4. Organic constituents

• organic constituents of interest in wastewater are
classified as aggregate and individual. Organic
compounds are normally composed of a combination of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, together with nitrogen in
some cases. In general, the analyses used to measure
aggregate organic material may be divided into those
used to measure gross concentrations of organic matter
greater than about 1 mg/l and those used to measure
trace concentration in the range of 10 -12 to 100 mg/l.
Laboratory methods commonly used today to measure
gross amounts of organic matter in wastewater include:
(1) biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), (2) chemical
oxygen demand (COD), and (3) total organic carbon
(TOC).

2.wastewater Constituents 8 Removed

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2.wastewater Constituents 8 Removed

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

2.wastewater Constituents 8 Removed

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2

2.1. Wastewater constituents

• The important constituents of concern in wastewater

• 4. Nutrients: Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with

2.2. Physical characteristics

• 6. Fixed suspended solids (FSS) : The residue that remains

• In addition, oxygen is less soluble in warm water than in cold water.

2.3. Inorganic constituents

• Inorganic chemical constituents of concern include

2. Alkalinity: Alkalinity in wastewater results from the

2.4. Organic constituents

You might also like