PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE,
PAC ACTIVATED SLUDGE, GRANULAR ACTIVATED
CARBON AND A RESIN COLUMN FOR REMOVING
PRIORITY POLLUTANTS FROM A
PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER
Don F. Kincannon, Professor
Ayoub Esfandi, Research Associate
School of Civil Engineering
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
INTRODUCTION
The wastewater from an animal pharmaceutical plant was selected by the Effluent Guidelines Division's (EGD) Organic Chemicals Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for a two-phase study. The first phase consisted of bench-scale studies which were
conducted by the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL) Industrial
Sources Section. The second phase consisted of field pdot plant studies which were conducted as a joint effort between the RSKERL Industrial Sources Section and the Bioenviron-
mental and Water Resources Group of Oklahoma State University.
A particular animal pharmaceutical plant was selected and was contacted by EGD/
RSKERL personnel, and arrangements were made for conducting the study. Samples were
collected at the plant and shipped to RSKERL for bench-scale treatabdity studies. The information obtained from the bench-scale studies provided the rationale for selecting the pdot
plants to be operated on site at the plant.
This study has provided a unique opportunity for cooperation between industry, EPA
and university personnel. The success of the study can be attributed to the successful cooperation that occurred.
The purpose of this study was to field test various wastewater treatment processes for the
treatment of industrial wastewaters containing priority podutants. The plant is a pharmaceutical industry and produces a wastewater that contains o-nitroandine (ONA), 2-nitro-
phenol (2-NP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE), 1,1-dichloroethylene
(DCE), phenol, various metals and other organics.
It was not the purpose of this study to determine the best operational parameters of the
pilot plants. The time limitation imposed on the study did not allow for the variation of
operating parameters. Reasonable operating parameters, based upon experience, were
selected and used throughout the study.
GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL PLAN
The general experimental plan called for a field pdot plant study to be conducted at a
pharmaceutical plant for approximately six weeks. A laboratory trader was outfitted by
RSKERL and transported to the site. Personnel from Oklahoma State University, in cooperation with personnel from RSKERL, started setting up the pdot plant facdities on
June 4, 1979. The pdot plants were operational and sampling started on June 10, 1979.
The pilot plants were then operated untd July 11, 1979.
The treatment processes selected to be operated included:
1. an activated sludge pilot plant;
2. a powdered activated carbon activated sludge pilot plant;
3. a granular activated carbon column preceded by a dual media filter; and
4. a macroreticular resin column preceded by a dual media filter.
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