Correlation between operating parameters and removal efficiency for chemically enhanced primary treatment system of wastewater

Abstract

Background: “Chemically enhanced primary treatment” (CEPT) is an approach to wastewater treatment. It can be utilized as a specially designed step in “biological” secondary treatment processes. The aim of this study is to create an empirical model of separation efficiency for wastewater chemically enhanced primary treatment. Methods: The empirical model is undertaken using the simulation of the data obtained from pilot plant experimental studies using different types of coagulant (FeCl₃, alum, lime, and Magna-floc155). The empirical modeling techniques used multivariate regression model. Different values of BOD₅, COD, TSS, as well as separation efficiencies for COD and TSS were investigated in accordance to achieve final effluent results that would meet the Egyptian standards limit. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that removal efficiencies of COD and TSS can be predicted to be (R² = 0.973 and 0.978, respectively). Conclusion: The present work provides an approach for using chemically enhanced primary treatment of wastewater. The obtained results showed that the empirical model can predict removal efficiencies with R² = 0.973, and 0.978 for COD and TSS. The advantage of this model is that it would allow better process control and treatment efficiency. The results show that chemically enhanced primary treatment method can be used as an efficient method in conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants to reduce the organic load of biological treatment and enhance nutrients removal.