WASTE MINIMIZATION PROMOTES BIOPHYSICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLEX PETROCHEMICAL WASTES IN ISRAEL

A full-scale 300 m(3)/day industrial waste treatment system was put in to operation in a petrochemical manufacturing plant in Israel for the purpose of detoxifying its complex organic waste stream. The GPI treat ment plant design incorporates an innovative waste management approach to accommodate the limited space allocated for the facility. It emplo ys influent equalization and waste minimization techniques, in support of an advanced biophysical treatment process to accomplish a substant ial reduction in the facility footprint while producing a high quality effluent. Initial performance data indicate a highly efficient organi c waste reduction. COD and BOD removal surpassed 95% and 98%, respecti vely, over the initial two months of operation, meeting the stringent effluent discharge criteria. The system also provides effective sludge dewatering, producing 40-50% solids sludge, thereby minimizing sludge disposal costs.