Descriptive and multivariate analyses of four Tunisian wastewater treatment plants: A comparison between different treatment processes and their efficiency improvement. (1st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boujelben, Ines; Samet, Youssef; Messaoud, Mouna; Ben Makhlouf, Mohamed; Maalej, Sami
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 187(2017)
• Page Start: 63
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2017-02-01
• Subjects: Wastewater -- COD -- Sludge -- RDA -- ANOVA -- Electrochemical -- Electrolysis; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.11.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of four wastewater treatment plants/processes over a 4 year period. The wastewater flow evolution, energy consumption, and quality indicator parameters (BOD5, COD and TSS) at the inlet and outlet sites of the plants were determined. In comparing three domestic WWTPs with different wastewater treatment processes, the multivariate analyses (RDA and ANOVA) showed that although the Agareb plant received the highest pollution load, it displayed a high level of removal efficiency especially for COD, BOD, TSS, TKN and NH4 + . It also revealed that the fluctuations in the wastewater composition and its contamination by varied industrial discharge could lead to the decrease in performance of the WWTP with activated sludge process as observed for the Southern Sfax plant. However, the electrolysis of the outlet water of Southern Sfax plant showed a significant improvement in COD removal. Highlights: Treatment plants in South Sfax and Kerkennah stations was evaluated. An electrochemical post-treatment process was examined on pilot scale for COD removal. Graphite carbon as anode and copper as cathode were used with solar photovoltaic panels. The electrolysis of the output wastewater results in higher COD (70%) removal.