Innovative biological treatment for sustainable development in the chemical industries

This paper presents a perspective of wastewater management in the chemical industries as related to sustainable development. The scope of wastewater m anagement must therefore further be expanded to include the concept of ecol ogical integrity of receiving waters. Ecological integrity of receiving wat ers is compromised by contaminants which are not effectively removed by Bes t Conventional Technology (BCT). Biological treatment typically offers the most cost-effective conversion and/or stabilization of wastewaters; however , modifications must be employed in the design and operation to provide sat isfactory effluent quality. Enhanced treatment techniques for wastewaters c ontaining high organic concentrations, VOCs, elevated TDS levels, toxics an d priority pollutants are discussed. The importance of design and operation al procedures including pretreatment technologies, two stage vs. single sta ge activated sludge, selector design and maximum specific oxygen uptake rat e determinations are also presented. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.