Co-flotation of effluents from detergent and marble processing industries in Denver and dispersed air flotation systems

Abstract

Suspended solids in the marble processing wastewater (MPWW) have the potential to pollute receiving media. Likewise, detergent production wastewater (DPWW) needs treatment prior to discharge as they include surfactants and others. Flotation and its modifications are common for separation purposes in various engineering solutions. To increase flotation performance by changing the surface tension some collector and frother chemicals, surfactants are utilized. Detergents are among important surfactants and they may act as both frother and collector in flotation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of DPWW in co-flotation with MPWW. Two effluents were mixed at varying ratios and dispersed air (DISP) and Denver (DEN) flotation co-treatment were applied to the mixtures. Volume ratio, time and air flow rate on treatment performance were investigated. Turbidity, solids, COD, phosphate removals were achieved at varying levels when the flotation was applied to the mixture. The highest treatment performance was achieved at 90%MPWW-10%DPWW mixture. 10 min flotation time and 2 L min−1 air flow rate for the DEN system, and 20 min and 6 L min−1 for the DISP system were recommended. Under these conditions turbidity, SS, COD, phosphate and alkalinity residuals (and removal efficiencies) were 2400 NTU(82%), 1720 mg.L−1(89%), 313.6 mg.L−1(10%), 20 mg.L−1(20%) and 600 mg.L−1CaCO3(92%) in the DEN system, respectively. Whereas, in the DISP system, under the same conditions, final values of 1880 NTU(86%), 1540 mg.L−1(91%), 262 mg.L−1(17%), 21 mg.L−1(20%) and 470 mg.L−1(94%) were obtained, respectively. The highest SludgeSS concentration increased up to 19300 mg.L−1 in the 90%–10% mixture. In all samples, dewaterable sludge was obtained. By this study, co-flotation of these two effluents was recommended. Within SDGs, this approach will replace frother chemical usage. The process performance can further be enhanced via flotation modifications and technology can be developed as further study. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd