Removal of Soluble Secondary-Effluent Organics

Data are presented on the removal of soluble organic nitrogen (SON) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) by chemical coagulation, activated-carbon adsorption, ion exchange, lime precipitation, chemical oxidation, biological oxidation and various combinations of these processes. This information will enable decision makers to assess the economic impact and technological feasibility of setting limitations on the discharge of organic nitrogen, and will be of use to engineers in designing treatment systems for removal of SON should limitations be imposed. A hypothetical scheme is proposed which operationally fractionates SON and SCOD in a manner defined by the experimental results of the study and by the nature of the processes involved. The scheme divides SON and SCOD into a number of fractions and indicates which are mutually exclusive and which overlap. Such a scheme is helpful in understanding and predicting the behavior of organic contaminants with respect to various treatment processes and fractionates organics.