Background

Stream influent waste high in NH3, low in TSS and COD

Wastewater influent stream coming out from oil refinery process & cooling water blowdown

Wastewater treatment depend on physical and chemical solid-liquid separation, COD removal by
chemical treatment and biological reaction

NH3 content in wastewater stream is reduced biologically by nitrifying reaction at aeration basin

In accordance with government regulation, the final discharge must meet criteria :

pH : 6-9

NH3 : <8 mg/L

Phenol : <0.8 mg/L

COD : <160 mg/L

BOD : <80 mg/L

TSS : <80 mg/L

Sulfide : <0.5 mg/L

Oil content : <20 mg/L

Current year plan is recycle water from effluent WWTU for usage in makeup cooling water system, in
concern about environmental issue and cost saving

WWTU diagram

Finding

High efficiency primary treatment (coagulation and flocculation) in COD (62%)

and suspended solid removal (99%)

Dissolved oxygen excess in aeration basin

No blower for sludge mixing at aeration basin

Uncontrolled operational parameter (SVI, MLSS, MLVSS, F/M, MCRT, RAS)

High efficiency NH3 removal at aeration basin

pH decrease significantly in results of nitrifying reaction

High caustic demand to increase pH at final effluent

Underload design of WWTU

Record of analysis
Sampel
Equalisation
Inlet
Coagulation
Inlet DAF
Inlet Aeration
Aeration 1A
Aeration 1B
Aeration 2A
Aeration 2B
Aeration 3A
Aeration 3B
Aeration 4A
Aeration 4B
Secondary
Clarifier
Final Basin

pH
Ammonia (ppm)
Nitrite Nitrate COD (19-Feb)
30-Jan 6-Feb 7-Feb 10-Feb 11-Feb 19-Feb 30-Jan 6-Feb 7-Feb 10-Feb 11-Feb 19-Feb 19-Feb 19-Feb Filter Unfilter
6.81
12
1
0.6
93
219
7.18

6.84

6.89

6.85

6.36

6.8
4.39
4.67
4.02
4.2
4
3.98
4.01

6.44
6.43
4.65
4.93
4.64
4.46
5.12
5.23
6.14

6.68
6.44
4.6
4.41
4.43
4.51
4.35
4.42
4.77

7.17
6.81
6.12
4.12
4
3.88
3.99
3.88
4.04

6.78
6.78
6.22
5.66
4.42
4.67
4.31
4.3
4.26

6.78
6.54
6.75
6.42
4.19
4.1
3.92
3.75
3.95
3.7
4.01

4.73

5.46
7.33

7.17

8.68

4.68

10

12

11

12
3
5
3
3.5
1
1.5
0.4

9
9
6
2.5
2.5
5.5
1
0.11
0.05

6
5
2
2
2.5
2
3
0.07
0.05

8
6
5
3
2
2
1
0.12
0.08

9
7
6
1
1.5
2
1.5
0.03
0.04

1.34

0.14

0.22

0.32

0.1

16
15
10
8

1
3

1.8
4.5

9.3

3.5

12.3

0.32

12.5

0.27
0.29

11.6

65
95
56

210
94
83
91
87
8
7
17
5
5
9

15
9

Parameter
Flow
Total COD
Total BOD
BOD/COD
Total Suspended Solids
Parameter
Surface Area
Influent flow
Solids Loading
Hydraulic Loading Rate
Solids Loading Rate
Solids Concentration in Overflow
Solids Loads to Aeration
Solids Loads to Thickener
Total COD
Soluble COD
% COD Removal
Total Suspended Solids
% SS Removal
Parameter
Total COD
Soluble COD
Biodegradable COD
Non Biodegradable COD
Readily Biodegradable COD
Slowly Biodegradable COD
Biodegradable particulate COD
Particulate COD
bpCOD/pCOD
Parameter
BOD influent
Volume of SBR
Influent flow
Detention Time
Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids
Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids
Theoretical F/M
WAS flow
TSS WAS
COD effluent
Effluent clarifier flow
TSS clarifier effluent
Sludge age

INFLUENT EQ
Value
Unit
Remarks
840
m3/day
219
ppm
65.7
ppm
0.30
TSS
5
ppm
DAF
Symbol
Value
Unit
Remarks
A
44.15625 m2
600
TSS
4
kg/day
HLR
0.8
m3/m2.hr
SLR
0.1
kg/m2/day
0.030
ppm
0.0
kg/day
4.2
kg/day
COD
83
ppm
sCOD
56
ppm
62.1
%
TSS
0.030
ppm
99.4
%
INFLUENT OF AERATION TANK
Symbol
Value
Unit
Remarks
COD
83
ppm
sCOD
56
ppm
bCOD
31
ppm
nbCOD
52
ppm
rbCOD
4
ppm
sbCOD
12
ppm
bpCOD
15
pCOD
27
0.56
AERATION TANK
Symbol
Value
Unit
Remarks
56
V
64.00 m3
F
600.00 m3/day
RT
2.56 hrs
MLVSS
0.032
ppm
MLSS
0.04
ppm
Best Practices : 2000-4000
F/M
13,125.00
Best Practices: 0.15 - 0.6
70.0
m3/day
11.4100 ppm
15
ppm
150.0
m3/day
37.0
ppm
0.00032 day
Best Practices : 5-15 days
Symbol
Q
COD
BOD

Review of performance

Chemical usage in primary treatment is effective in reducing TSS and COD

Excess dissolved oxygen make nitrifying reaction is fastly consumed pH in NH3

oxidation

Low mixing rate at aeration basin give consequences of low sludge age, MLSS, and
nutrient unbalanced in high F/M, and septic condition at some microsites in
activated sludge

Slow growth of microorganisms in aeration basin indicate by low MLSS

Activated sludge suffered septic condition, indicated by very abundance nutrient (as
showed in F/M) but no increase trending growth in MLSS

As no circulation in aeration basin, RAS flow not contribute to biomass level

maintenance in aeration basin, high proportion primary sludge in RAS flow

Activated sludge can suffered high sludge age although current system is in low
MCRT. No circulation causing more activated sludge retent in the system and the
age of the sludge can not maintained

Different pH decrease trend compared to last year due to different NH3 load and
biological activity level of nitrifying bacteria. As NH3 load increase, nitrifying is
increase, and pH is more decrease

10

Recommendation

Monitor and control operational parameter (MLSS, MCRT,

SVI, RAS flow, & DO)

Decrease DO until level of 2-4 mg/L

Install blower to increase mixing rate at aeration basin

By passed waste stream after 2nd tank in aeration basin as

NH3 was in level 7 mg/L and no drastic decrease in pH to
reduce caustic demand

Potential saving
Benefit in optimal fine tuning performance of WWTU is potential saving cost
in electrical and make up water consumption

Reducing dissolved concentration can impact on cost saving in electrical as

high as $10,000/year

Optimal WWTU operational that meet make up water criteria can give
potential cost saving $130,000/year, if 50% makeup cooling water system
from effluent WWTU

Thank you
for your attention & suggestion