A Combined Approach For Effective Wastewater Treatment At Wool-Washing Plants

Abstract

This article scientifically substantiates the effectiveness of a combined anaerobic-chemical wastewater treatment method for wool-washing enterprises, aimed at increasing the removal efficiency of organic pollutants and surfactants while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and sludge production.  The study was conducted at a pilot plant equipped with anaerobic and aerobic units, chemical treatment, and a thermal stage. The kinetics of the reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (COD and BOD) were evaluated using a first-order model. Control parameters included concentrations of COD, BOD, fats, surfactants, sludge volume, and specific energy consumption. Experiments were repeated three times to ensure statistical reliability of the results. The combined method achieves 98.5% COD removal, 92% BOD, 95% fats, and 85% surfactants with limited sludge production (0.5 m³/day) and moderate energy consumption (2.7 kWh/kg COD). Anaerobic digestion ensures a significant reduction in organic matter and biogas production, the chemical stage ensures rapid removal of fats and surfactants, and the combination of both stages creates a synergistic effect. For the first time, the effectiveness of integrating the chemical and anaerobic stages for the comprehensive treatment of wool washing wastewater has been proposed and experimentally confirmed, ensuring a high degree of organic matter, grease, and surfactant removal with reduced energy consumption and controlled sludge formation. The developed combined method can be implemented at wool primary processing facilities to improve wastewater treatment efficiency, reduce operating costs, and minimize the negative impact on the environment