| Title | Treating and reusing wastewater generated by the washing operations in the non-hazardous plastic solid waste recycling process: Advanced method vs. conventional method |
| Abstract | The effectiveness of an advanced treatment of wastewater generated by non-hazardous plastic solid waste (PSW) washing, based on the Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor (SBBGR), was assessed in terms of gross parameters, removal efficiencies and sludge production. The proposed treatment was also compared with the conventional treatment, which was based on primary and secondary treatments, using the activated sludge process, performed by Recuperi Pugliesi, a leading company in the plastic recycling industry located in Bari, Italy. The company produces low-density polyethylene (LDPE) regenerated granules from PSW used in agricultural and floricultural greenhouse activities and industrial packaging after a washing stage in the aqueous phase. The latter generates large volumes of wastewater, the conventional treatment of which is characterised by large quantities of sludge and the associated disposal problems. Under steady-state conditions, the SBBGR provided impressive removal efficiencies regarding the main gross parameters (over 90% for COD and TKN, over 99% for BOD5, TSS, VSS and NH3, and over 80% for TN) with a statistically better effluent quality than that of the conventional treatment. The SBBGR effluent quality was modelled in terms of washing water characteristics by using generalized additive models (GAMs). The SBBGR treatment was characterised by a specific sludge production five times lower than that of the conventional treatment (0.21 kg TSS vs. 1.0 kg TSS per m3 of wastewater treated). Compared with the conventional treatment, the proposed process showed a five-fold reduction in
the cost of sludge disposal, which saved 50% of the operating cost. |
| Source | Journal of environmental management 284 (112011) |
| Keywords | Plastic recycling processSBBGRSludge productionWashing water treatmentWastewater recycling |
| Journal | Journal of environmental management |
| Editor | Academic Press., New York, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| Authors | Valerio Guido Altieri, Marco De Sanctis, Damiano Sgherza, Simona Pentassuglia, Emanuele Barca, Claudio Di Iaconi |
| Text | 443200 2021 Plastic recycling process SBBGR Sludge production Washing water treatment Wastewater recycling Treating and reusing wastewater generated by the washing operations in the non hazardous plastic solid waste recycling process Advanced method vs. conventional method Valerio Guido Altieri, Marco De Sanctis, Damiano Sgherza, Simona Pentassuglia, Emanuele Barca, Claudio Di Iaconi CNR IRSA The effectiveness of an advanced treatment of wastewater generated by non hazardous plastic solid waste PSW washing, based on the Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor SBBGR , was assessed in terms of gross parameters, removal efficiencies and sludge production. The proposed treatment was also compared with the conventional treatment, which was based on primary and secondary treatments, using the activated sludge process, performed by Recuperi Pugliesi, a leading company in the plastic recycling industry located in Bari, Italy. The company produces low density polyethylene LDPE regenerated granules from PSW used in agricultural and floricultural greenhouse activities and industrial packaging after a washing stage in the aqueous phase. The latter generates large volumes of wastewater, the conventional treatment of which is characterised by large quantities of sludge and the associated disposal problems. Under steady state conditions, the SBBGR provided impressive removal efficiencies regarding the main gross parameters over 90% for COD and TKN, over 99% for BOD5, TSS, VSS and NH3, and over 80% for TN with a statistically better effluent quality than that of the conventional treatment. The SBBGR effluent quality was modelled in terms of washing water characteristics by using generalized additive models GAMs . The SBBGR treatment was characterised by a specific sludge production five times lower than that of the conventional treatment 0.21 kg TSS vs. 1.0 kg TSS per m3 of wastewater treated . Compared with the conventional treatment, the proposed process showed a five fold reduction in the cost of sludge disposal, which saved 50% of the operating cost. 284 Published version Articolo in rivista Academic Press. 0301 4797 Journal of environmental management Journal of environmental management J. environ. manag. ALTIERI VALERIO GUIDO SGHERZA DAMIANO PENTASSUGLIA SIMONA claudio.diiaconi DI IACONI CLAUDIO emanuele.barca BARCA EMANUELE marco.desanctis DE SANCTIS MARCO |
