A study on the efficiency of the sequential batch reactor on the reduction of wastewater pollution from oil washing

Industrial pollution discharges from washing fuel oils pose severe problems for the environment, particularly for the marine environment receiving these discharges. This work evaluates the biological treatment performance of wastewater (90 m3/h) rich in organic matter with low biodegradability using a sequential batch reactor (SBR) on a laboratory scale. The test using SBR was carried out for 25 days on a continuous cycle of 24 h (30 min of filling, 17 h of aeration, 4 h of anoxia, 2 h of settling, and 30 min of emptying). The feasibility of alternative sources of microorganisms from urban wastewater. The performance of the batch sequencing reactor was evaluated using turbidity, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), ammonium, nitrate, and phenol as indicators. The results obtained showed that the COD/BOD ratio and the pollutant load vary from one campaign to another. The removal efficiency of COD, BOD, TSS (Total suspended solids), ammonium, nitrate, and phenol varies from 81%, 91%, 72%, 100%, 52%, and 63%. Thus, SBR-type treatment could be an interesting way to reduce pollution due to its simplicity, less space occupation, low energy consumption, and not requiring highly qualified personnel.