Use of microaeration to remove sulfur from sulfate rich latex wastewater

Abstract

Latex processing industry generates wastewater with high sulphate content which is converted into hydrogen sulphide in an anaerobic digester. Disposal of this latex wastewater has created severe environmental and health hazard. This study develops a strategy to remove sulphate by performing microaeration. Two lab scale anaerobic reactors were operated, as fully anaerobic and anaerobic with microaeration. These reactors are semi-continuously fed with synthetic latex wastewater contains COD/SO4-2 ratio of 3. After the stabilization, oxygen loading conditions as 4, 6, 7 mg/day were performed stepwise to enable the microaeration condition without inhibition. Bio gas composition, COD, SO4-2, S-2, H2S and oxygen reduction potential (ORP) are the measured parameters.