Treatment of Photographic Waste at
Beale AFB, California
ROBERT B. SPICHER, Associate Professor
CAPT. GEORGE M. IDEHARA, Graduate Student
MAJOR JAMES G. KAUTZ, Graduate Student
Department of Civil Engineering
San Jose State College
San Jose, California
INTRODUCTION
Recovery of valuable metals and removal of cyanides has normally been the
primary concern in the treatment of photographic wastes. Individual industries have
effectively recovered the silver used in the photo development process and the
remaining waste is generally discharged into a receiving body with minimum
treatment. Evidently, few problems have been encountered for little data is available
on chemical treatment of photographic wastes.
Beale Air Force Base located at Marysville, California has a chemical treatment
plant to reduce the suspended solids of its photographic waste prior to its discharge
into deep wells. Problems were encountered in the process and a study was made to
improve it.
It is believed this study (is one of the first made to find the optimum
parameters and coagulants to be used for clarification of photographic wastes. The
problem at Beale AFB was unique and this study was oriented towards the solution
of the particular problem.
Various portions of the process at Beale AFB are of a classified nature and have
been purposely overlooked in this report. No specific references to the classified
portions will be made.
TREATMENT FACILITIES
AT BEALE AFB
The present installation for treatment of photographic wastes is a separate
integral unit, completely independent of the nearby domestic waste treatment plant.
The plant was designed to provide treatment for the maximum flow of photographic
wastes that Beale AFB is capable of producing. Primarily, the plant is oriented to the
removal of suspended solids and to maintaining a desired level of total dissolved
solids (TDS) in the final effluent. The system was designed as a compact unit which
would maximize removal of solids with a minimum space requirement and with a
minimum of expense.
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