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BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF HIGH STRENGTH PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER--A CASE HISTORY USING PAC (POWDERED ACTIVATED CARBON) TECHNOLOGY
Citation:
Osantowski, R., D. Gardner, C. Dempsey, AND K. Dostal. BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF HIGH STRENGTH PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER--A CASE HISTORY USING PAC (POWDERED ACTIVATED CARBON) TECHNOLOGY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-87/283 (NTIS PB88103858), 1987.
Description:
From September to December 1984 pharmaceutical wastewater containing high concentrations of total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) was treated in trailer mounted, activated sludge pilot plants. Three systems were operated in parallel. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) was added to two of the units and the third was operated as a control. A viscous floating mass of mixed liquor solids (VFMLS) developed in the PAC fed units and resulted in premature termination of the study. A follow-up study was conducted at this same pharmaceutical plant from March to July 1987. Again, three trailer mounted, activated sludge pilot plants were operated in parallel with PAC added to two of them and the third operated as a control. The paper presents important findings of this 1987 study regarding the (1) attempt to identify the cause of the VFMLS; (2) TCOD removal by PAC addition to a biological treatment plant; (3) specific organic chemical removal; and (4) aquatic toxicity removal.