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Decreasing the MBAS and COD parameters in the effluent

Dear sir,

We've asked by the environmental agency to get better the levels of our effluent by the decreasing of parameters like COD and MBAS.

We produce liquid waste only by the cleaning of our reactors and the main origin of organic compounds are surfactants.

Until now we only treat our effluent by neutralization. We have a discontinuous system.

Do you have some instruction.

Tanks in advance. Otoniel Sant'Ana

Sant'Ana, Otoniel Domingos de
domissanitary products factory - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2003

Best surfactant reduction by chemical means depends on the type of surfactant you are using. Anionic surfactants can often be removed by addition of proper addition alum followed by pH adjustment followed by addition of polymer flocculant and filtration or settling. Nonionic surfactants may work better if a bentonite clay is added early in the treatment. For fewer problems in this type of treatment keep close control of your surfactant levels in cleaning processes.

James Chunn
- Theodore, Alabama
2003