Biological treatment of aqueous wastes from coal conversion processes

Abstract

Efforts to obtain relative economic costs of various environmental control technologies for the treatment of aqueous wastes from coal conversion processes have been completed. Six processes have been identified as potentially promising in this area: ozonation, adsorption, biological degradation, solvent extraction, membrane processes, and coagulation-flocculation. Each of these processes was discussed. The general consensus seems to be that biological degradation will give the lowest cost per thousand gallons of wastewater or per pound of material degraded at a reasonable removal efficiency. A tapered fluidized-bed bioreactor has been adapted to degrade actual hydrocarbonization wastewater. Relatively low residual organic levels at high removal rates per unit volume have been achieved. The use of this type of bioreactor in conjunction with more efficient alternative control technologies may offer real economic advantages and result in extremely low levels of refractory organics. 6 n the aforementioned study is being designed. The delivery characteristics of a specified reference product, from a materials handling point of view, are being determined.