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Selective Alum Recovery From Clarifier Sludge
Author(s) -
Sengupta Arup K.,
Shi Bo
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1992.tb07290.x
Subject(s) - alum , clarifier , waste management , water treatment , hydroxide , chemistry , pulp and paper industry , manganese , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Hoping to save money and to reduce solid waste, water utilities are evaluating various alternatives for the disposal of clarifier sludge containing 30 to 50 percent hydrated aluminum hydroxide. In this work, the authors studied a selective, simple‐to‐operate alum recovery process using composite membranes made of fine particles of chelating polymers entrapped in thin sheets of porous polytetrafluoroethylene. Laboratory studies using the sludge from the Allentown (Pa.) Water Treatment Plant showed that alum can be recovered selectively without any significant carryover of organic matter (trihalomethane precursors), manganese, or other heavy metals into the recovered alum. The composite membrane was quite robust and durable and exhibited a high affinity toward dissolved aluminum.