Treatment of tapioca starch wastewater by a novel combination of physical and biological processes

Water Sci Technol. 2013;68(6):1264-70. doi: 10.2166/wst.2013.354.

Abstract

A pilot plant combining dissolved air flotation, anaerobic degradation in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor and aerobic post-treatment in a vertical flow constructed wetland has been used to treat tapioca starch wastewater for more than 2.25 years. It is demonstrated that organic matter (chemical oxygen demand by >98%), nitrogen (Kjeldahl-N by >90%) and cyanide (total cyanide by >99%) can be removed very efficiently under stable operating conditions. The removal efficiency for phosphorus is lower (total-P by 50%). The treatment concept, which includes several sustainable aspects, e.g. production of energy to be used on-site, low operation demands and minimal use of chemicals, could be interesting for small- and middle-sized tapioca processing plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Bioreactors
  • Cyanides / metabolism
  • Food-Processing Industry
  • Industrial Waste
  • Manihot*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Phosphorus / metabolism
  • Sewage
  • Starch*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Wastewater
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism
  • Wetlands

Substances

  • Cyanides
  • Industrial Waste
  • Sewage
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Phosphorus
  • Starch
  • Nitrogen