Treatment and characterization of wastewater from vegetable oil industries

ABSTRACT PhD Thesis TREATMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTEWATER FROM EDIBLE OIL INDUSTRIES Yusuf SAATÇİ Fırat University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Department of Environmental Engineering 1999, Page : 84 The vegetable oil industry is one of the most important industrial sectors. As a part of the agro-industry vegetable oil production makes a significant contribution to environmental pollution. A lot of studies have been carried out on the characterisation and treatment of vegetable oil production wastes in Turkey, but the quality and quantity, of waste loads and treatment of the wastewater produced by vegetable oil industries have not been studied to a great extent. In this study Karadeniz Birlik Doğan Erdil Vegetable Oil Factory, Elazığ, was selected as representative of this sector. This method of production has been evaluated and the factory's wastewater has been investigated. During the first part of the test program, quality of combined and separate raw effluents was investigated. Possible physical-chemical and biological treatment alternatives were examined by use of pilot-scale and laboratory models. Under the light of this study the most efficient treatment combination has been determined. The results showed that 17.65-69.12 % of COD and 28.50-76.32 % oil & grease were removed by use of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF). The results also showed that 63.19-80.66 % COD and 76.95-83.38 % oil & grease were removed in the acid creaking and coagulation with lime. Although 88. 14-92.99 % of COD and 69.89-92. 1 1 % of oil & grease were removed by use of alum, 94.66-96.25 % of CODIV and 93.81-96.16 % of oil & grease were removed by use of ferric chloride at the treatment of same wastewater. The treatment efficiency of coagulation with alum process were raised up to range 94.66-95.37 % for COD and 96.88-97.78 % oil & grease by use of alum-clay process. The COD and oil & grease of the effluent of fat trap were removed to be 85- 91 % and 82-88 % respectively by use of DAF-UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket). In conclusion, when the wastewater of Karadeniz Birlik Doğan Erdil Vegetable Oil Factory, Elazığ, was treated by fat trap-DAF-UASB-AS (Activated Sludge) treatment train, the quality of the effluent can reach to the level of standards determined by Turkish Water Pollution Control Regulation. Key Words : Vegetable oil industry, Wastewater, Treatment, Fat trap, Dissolved air flotation, Coagulation, Activated sludge, Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket.