Anaerobic Lagooning — A New Approach to
Treatment of Industrial Wastes
DAVID O. HOWE, Agronomist
Product Development Department
ARCHIE P. MILLER, Chemical Engineer
Technical Development Department
Research and Development Division
Commercial Solvents Corporation
Terre Haute, Indiana
JAMES E. ETZEL, Associate Professor of Sanitary Engineering
School of CivU Engineering
Purdue University
Lafayette, Indiana
ABSTRACT
A pilot-scale lagoon was operated to test anaerobic lagooning as a method
for treatment of wastes from chemical and fermentation processes. Reduction in
biochemical oxygen demand of feed streams by 60-80 per cent was achieved at
5-15 C. These temperatures are lower than those normally used for anaerobic
digestion of sewage. State approval was secured for installation of a full-scale
anaerobic lagoon system operating at ambient temperatures for treatment of plant
wastes.
INTRODUCTION
Commercial Solvents Corporation at its plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, produces a variety of industrial chemicals and fermentation products. A portion of
the wastes from these processes has been discharged to the Wabash River, which
adjoins the plant property. Recognizing that this method of disposal contributed
to the poUution ofthe Wabash River, Commercial Solvents has been working with
the Indiana Stream PoUution Control Board for several years to assess the magnitude of the pollution problem and methods for its aUeviation.
Recently Commercial Solvents developed with the Control Board a plan for
the reduction of its pollution load to the river. The plan had as its objectives
elimination of soUds from outfalls to the river, and discharge of a waste which
would create no more pollution load than a population equivalent of 25,000. Implementation of this plan culminated in the present study of treatment of industrial wastes in an anaerobic lagoon.
WASTE CHARACTERIZATION
A study of plant waste streams showed the total effluent to be approximately
8. 6 mgd. By far the largest portion of this was clean weU water (used primarily
for cooling), which, since it was uncontaminated, could be discharged directly to
the Wabash River without causing a pollution load. The plant sewer system was
revised to separate cooling water streams from waste-containing streams. Sanitary
sewage was delivered to the city sewer system whenever possible; the remainder
was collected with the process waste streams to be treated. Inert solids were to be
collected separately from the sewage system and used for land fiU.
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