Enhanced Carbon Adsorption Process for Advanced Treatment of Biotreated Coking Plant Wastewater

The effectiveness of coagulation/flocculation/ sedimentation (CFS), carbon adsorption, and CFS+carbon adsorption for advanced treatment of a biologically treated coking plant effluent was studied. The CFS treatment was cost effective for producing an effluent reusable as cooling water (COD_Cr<;100 mg/L). Carbon adsorption accomplished the same recycling treatment at a higher cost. Both carbon type and feed quality affect the cost of carbon adsorption treatment. The CFS+carbon adsorption treatment process, in which the CFS section removed large molecular weight organic constituents of the feed and the subsequent adsorption section using low cost coal based activated carbon removed the residual organic pollutant, was cost effective (Yen 0.75/m³ treated) for advanced treatment of the coking plant effluent; the final effluent (COD_Cr<;50 mg/L) was reusable for many beneficial purposes.