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Groundwater treatment and aquatic toxicity reduction at a chemical production site
Author(s) -
Usinowicz Paul J.,
Rozich Alan F.,
Clay Stephanie G.,
Colvin Richard J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.3440030408
Subject(s) - chemical oxygen demand , ceriodaphnia dubia , effluent , chemistry , environmental chemistry , biochemical oxygen demand , acute toxicity , toxicity , pulp and paper industry , biodegradation , groundwater , hydrogen peroxide , wastewater , environmental engineering , environmental science , organic chemistry , engineering , geotechnical engineering
Contaminated groundwater at a chemical antioxidant and phenolic resin chemical production site was subjected to treatability studies to develop design criteria for surface water discharge. Raw groundwater required pretreatment for total suspended solids (TSS) and color removal prior to treatment by ultraviolet light/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H 2 O 2 ). Because of high capital and operating costs for UV/H 2 O 2 , biological treatment was evaluated as an alternate. Respirometric analyses showed that completely mixed activated sludge could be applied as a treatment technology to the groundwater. Biotreatment resulted in an approximately 70 percent reduction in soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). Residual SCOD was recalcitrant to further biodegradation. The treated effluent was tested for aquatic toxicity using fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) and Ceriodaphnia dubia and was found to be toxic. Toxicity reduction of biotreatment effluent was evaluated in bench‐scale experiments using activated carbon adsorption, filtration, and UV/H 2 O 2 . Subsequent toxicity testing showed that filtration alone could reduce the bioeffluent toxicity and that residual SCOD was not the primary source of toxicity.