PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WASTEWATERS
GENERATED FROM THE PRODUCTION OF
DINITRO BUTYL PHENOL AND BLADEX
Adnan Shindala, Professor
Marvin T. Bond, Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
INTRODUCTION
The Vicksburg Chemical Company located in Vicksburg, Mississippi manufactures
organic and inorganic chemicals which include potassium nitrate, dinitrobutyl phenol
(DNBP), toxaphene, methyl parathion, substituted triazenes, nitric acid and chlorine.
Major wastewater streams from the industrial complex are from the manufacture of
methyl parathion, potassium nitrate, DNBP and Bladex.   Comprehensive waste management studies were conducted on these major waste streams.   The studies were designed
to identify the most cost effective, environmentally sound and implementable waste
management alternative for the industry.   The results of the studies conducted on the
wastewater streams from the dinitro butyl phenol (DNBP) and the bladex plants are
presented in this paper.   Results of the studies conducted on the methyl parathion and
potassium nitrate waste streams are presented elsewhere [ 1 ].
WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS
The manufacture of DNBP is a batch process that involves a sulfonation of ortho
substituted butyl phenol with sulfuric acid, then with nitric acid.   The wastewater from
this process would contain various degradation products, butyl phenols and free acids.
The DNBP is highly colored for dilute solutions, producing a bright yellow color at a
low pH and a reddish brown color at a neutral or higher pH.   Wastewater flow is approximately 6200 gallons/batch.   The plant can produce 4-5 batches per 24-hour day
and is currently in production 20 days per month.   DNBP wastewater is discharged to
a tank that permits the recovery of DNBP from the bottom while the upper level is
used as equalization storage prior to carbon adsorption.   Feed water to the carbon column is approximately 120 F.
The manufacture of bladex by Vicksburg Chemical did not begin until June 1975,
and produces the largest quantity of wastewater amounting to an average of 80,000
gallons per day.   Raw materials used in the process include acetone cyanohydrin and
ammonium hydroxide to produce amino acetone cyanohydrin (AACN), amines and substituted triazenes.   There are a number of reaction products, in addition to the raw
materials and bladex, that will be found in the wastewaters.   Acetone cyanohydrin contains approximately 500 mg/1 of free cyanide, while AACN is optically active.   The
final reaction produces hydrochloric acid which is adjusted to a pH of approximately
9 units before discharge.
A summary of the characteristics of these waste streams is presented in Table I.
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