Enhanced primary treatment of low-concentration municipal wastewater by means of bio-flocculant Pullulan

Abstract
Jar tests were conducted to investigate the performance of enhanced primary treatment processes for low-concentration municipal wastewater from South China by using composite flocculant combined with bio-flocculants Pullulan and poly-aluminum-chloride (PAC). The optimum dosage for composite flocculant and conditions for flocculation were determined. The experimental results indicated that composite flocculant had high efficiency for removing over 95% of turbidity, over 58% of CODCr (chemical oxygen demand determined with potassium dichromate), over 91% of TP (total phosphate), and over 15% of NH3-N. Moreover, it could improve sludge settling and dehydration properties, and decrease the treatment cost.