Palm oil refinery effluent treatment by sequencing batch reactors

Abstract

With the advances made in solenoid valves, sensors and microprocessor controllers, sequencing batch treatment technology can now be further developed and conveniently applied to wastewater treatment. Sequencing batch reactors (SBR), in contrast to conventional activated sludge plants, allow the control of reaction time for bioxidation of the organic substrates and maintenance of the necessary level of biomass in the reactor to be accomplished with a single tank. Bench-scale and pilot-scale studies were carried out, using palm oil refinery effluent having BOD and COD concentrations of up to 800 mg litre-1 and 1500 mg litre-1, respectively, to assess the treatability of palm oil refinery effluent by SBR. A microprocessor controller was used to control the various SBR operating modes. Results indicate good BOD and COD removals and process stability under wide variations of feed BOD and COD concentrations. © 1987.