Evaluation of Selected Operating Process Variables for a Bioflocculant Supported Column Flotation System

The poultry industry generates significant volumes of slaughterhouse wastewater, laden with numerous pollutants, thus requiring pretreatment prior to discharge. However, new technologies must be used to re-engineer the existing wastewater treatment equipment and incorporate new designs to improve the treatment processes or system performance. In this study, three variables, i.e., diffuser design, bioflocculant form, and flow rate, were evaluated to determine their effect on the performance of a bioflocculant-supported column flotation (BioCF) system. It was found that bioflocculants influenced diffuser performance with limited impact when the feed flow rate was varied, i.e., 3D-printed air diffusers and cell-free flocculants imparted high BioCF performance when compared to moulded diffusers and cell-bound flocculants. Notably, the combination of 3D-printed air diffusers and cell-free flocculants resulted in relatively high pollutant removal (81.23% COD, 94.44% TSS, 97.77% protein, and 90.38% turbidity reduction). The study lays a foundation for exploring 3D-printed air diffusers, a relatively new technology in conjunction with microbial flocculants usage that are regarded as eco-friendly for application in industry to enhance the performance of column flotation systems.