Shipboard Wastewater Treatment Using Granular Activated Carbon: Adsorption Test and Bioregeneration
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 10
Abstract
In this study, the adsorption of granular activated carbon (GAC) was evaluated in the treatment of slop with the aim of reducing the organic matter concentration in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The process was optimized for the oily wastewaters sampled from a floating tank of an oil coastal deposit in the Augusta Harbor (Sicily, Italy). In particular, both batch and dynamic tests were performed. Two different GACs were used and compared. In general, the application of the adsorption process was effective in the treatment of the slop. In fact, the percentages of removal, although rarely exceeding 65% in term of COD, reduced the overall organic load resulting from recalcitrant or poorly biodegradable substances (efficiency greater than 70–80% in terms of DOC and TPH). However, a pretreatment with is also sustainable for the removal of the main contaminants and for the pretreatment of the wastewater, improving the treatment before a subsequent biological process.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by an industrial scientific project financed by the Italian government inside the National Operative Program “Research and Competitiveness 2007–2013” (title of project: “SibSac—An integrated system for sediments remediation and high salinity marine wastewaters treatment”).
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 10 • October 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 30, 2016
Accepted: Apr 14, 2017
Published online: Jul 27, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Dec 27, 2017
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