Innovations in Oxidation Technologies

to treat difficult wastewaters

Dr Peter Barratt
Business Manager
Environmental & Clean Technology
Air Products (Europe)

Oxidation:
The range of technologies
Ozone

Non- or poorlybiodegradable

Thermal
Wet
Oxidation

Ozone
&
Biological

Incineration

Organic
Component
Aerobic Biological
Stabilization
or
Thermal Wet Oxidation

Aerobic
Biological

Biodegradable

Organics Concentration (%)

Requiring Destruction
2
TNAV
April 2005

10

High Purity Oxygen in Water

for Aerobic Biology why?
Increased Saturation Concentration (Cs)
Oxygen in Air
Oxygen

=
=

9.1mg/l @ 20oC
43 mg/l @ 20oC

Rate of Oxygen Mass Transfer

dC/dt = KLa (Cs - C)
Pure oxygen maximises the oxygen
deficit, so oxygen dissolves faster
Process benefits
Microbes enjoy well oxygenated
conditions
3
TNAV
April 2005

The Activated Sludge Process

Clarifier

Feed
Mixed Liquor
or
Sludge

Treated water
Settled Sludge

Returned Activated Sludge

(RAS)
Excess Sludge

4
TNAV
April 2005

The Activated Sludge Process

Clarifier

Feed

Treated water

Mixed Liquor
or
Sludge

OXYGEN

TNAV April 2005

Settled Sludge

Returned Activated Sludge

(RAS)
Excess Sludge

OXYGEN

Classical Oxygenation by
sidestream oxygen injection
Pure Oxygen
Typically from
Liquid Oxygen

The OXY-DEP process

Venturi-type
device

Secondary Ejector

Water
Intake
Recirculation Pump
6
TNAV
April 2005

Activated Sludge Basin

Paper Industry lagoon

7
TNAV
April 2005

New development
OXY-DEP VSA
On-site generated oxygen
Technology
Oxygen generator (Vacuum Swing
Absorption) linked to a low energy mixer
Standard sizes:
150 lpm
(262kg/d)
500 lpm
(875kg/d)
2800 lpm
(5000kg/d)
Simplicity and cost in line with aeration
Process benefits of oxygen

8
TNAV
April 2005

OXY-DEP VSA
OXYGEN GENERATOR

MIXER-OXYGENATOR

9
TNAV
April 2005

Aerobic Biological Treatment

Aeration
Typically 1 - 2kgCOD/m3/day
MLSS 1.5 5g/l
Up to 0.5kgNH3-N/m3/day
Oxygenation
High Rate Biological Treatment
processes
Typically 2 5kgCOD/m3/day
MLSS 3 20g/l
Up to 5kgNH3-N/m3/day
10
TNAV
April 2005

OXY-DEP MB Process
Membrane
OXY-DEP
reactor

Effluent
O2 Inlet

Wash
tank
Feed

11
TNAV
April 2005

OXY-DEP MB benefits
Refractory COD is treatable
High rate system
Above 30kgCOD/m3/day
Low waste sludge production rate
zero in 3 months (rendering)
Provides potentially re-usable
water

12
TNAV
April 2005

Oxygen - common uses in aerobic

biological treatment
Increase treatment capacity of an
existing aerated plant
Reduce odours, foams and aerosols
Cater for peak organic and ammonia
loads as required
Improve sludge quality
Reduce regulatory risk and improve
environmental image

13
TNAV
April 2005

Direct Ambient Oxidation

Oxidation Processes
Rising Main Injection (sewers)
avoids H2S and corrosion
Sulphide (S-) Oxidation
e.g. lagoons
Ozone
Hard COD and colour removal

O2 &
14
TNAV
April 2005

Ozone
Unstable oxidant
Generated on site
Precursor to .OH
Water treatment
In conjunction with biological
treatment

15
TNAV
April 2005

CHEMOX Reactor for O3

Gas
Outflow
Impinging
Zone

Liquid
Outflow
Guide Tube

Main Tube
Nozzle

Liquid Feed

Gas
Inflow
Pump

16
TNAV
April 2005

CHEMOX - landfill leachate

Existing Plant

CHEMOX
1.8

O3 :COD ratio*

> 2.2

4 hours

HRT

10.3 hours

500 mg/l

CODin

500 mg/l

<150 mg/l

CODout

<150 mg/l

4 kWh/kgO3

Powerdiss

8 kWh/kgO3

*:
17
TNAV
April 2005

ozone applied/COD removed

CHEMOX - landfill leachate

Existing Plant

CHEMOX
1.8

O3 :COD ratio*

4 hours

> 2.2

COST ADVANTAGE
500 mg/l
COD

500 mg/l

<150 mg/l

10.3 hours

HRT

in

CODout

<150 mg/l

8 kWh/kgO
Power in capital
17% lower

4 kWh/kgO3

diss

29% lower
in operation
*
: ozone applied/COD removed

18
TNAV
April 2005

Other Ozone
Applications
Sludge solids oxidation
Activated sludge in-process
Pathogen removal in reused water
Alternative clean oxidant in
chemical synthesis
Selective destruction of problem
bacteria e.g. bulking
19
TNAV
April 2005

Oxygen reuse technology

after ozone production
Normally, conversion of O2 to O3 is
6% to 12% by weight. Therefore:
Oxygen off-gas use in other
processes
Long Loop Recycle (LLR)
Short Loop Recycle (SLR)
O2 and O3 separated after the
ozoniser, and O2 recycled to
produce O3
98% conversion of O2
20
TNAV
April 2005

SLR Benefits - example

Straight
Through
Total

$2.50

40% Savings

Cost
$2.00

15% Savings

SLR Total

$1.00

$0.50
4

Capital
Power
Oxygen

12

16

Ozone Concentration [wt%]

21
TNAV
April 2005

tell me more

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