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TREATMENT OF COSMETIC WASTEWATER USING

BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY
ABSTRACT
The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) 15 m3/day capacity of Vinacosmo Company was
investigated and built by a combination between the anaerobic and aerobic activated sludge
treatment method. The analyzed wastewater results showed the effective performance in the
COD, BOD and TSS removal. With > 96% removal efficiency for all factors, our chosen
technology was proved as a right choice in cosmetic wastewater treatment. The effluent meets
Vietnamese standard TCVN 5945:2005, B level.
Keywords: Cosmetic wastewater, Aerotank, USAB

1. INTRODUCTION
The cosmetic wastewater is mainly contaminated by chemicals, such as: surfactants, fatty acids,
coconut oil, additives, oxidizers, mineral salts, suspended solids, The main cosmetic
wastewater sources are coming from equipments and pipeline washing at the end of the working
day or from the products changing. Therefore, the cosmetic wastewater varies on characteristics,
components, capacity, and concentrations of pollutants, depending to the factory condition.
The cosmetic wastewater from Vinacosmo company has two main characteristics are the
capacity and COD changing. To ensure the treatment efficiency and economic performance, the
biological method is usually used in reality. Because the high COD content, the cosmetic
wastewater needs to treated anaerobic method before aerobic activated sludge treatment method.
This is also the final technology which was utilized in the WWTP of Vinacosmo company. All
steps of investigation and operation of the Vinacosmo WWTP will be described and summarized
in this paper.
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
2.1. Material
Activated sludge used in textile WWTP was taken from stable aerotanks in other WWTPs which
have the similar characteristics.
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Treatment technology
Wastewater of Vinacosmo is collected in Pump sum, and then pumped to Equalization tank for
stabilizing capacity and pollutant concentrations to ensure the treatment performance of
biological tanks. The equalization tank is our solution for the characteristic changing of the
Vinacosmo cosmetic wastewater. After going to the equalization tank, wastewater flows to
UASB-Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket for organic components digestion in anaerobic
environment. The next treatment step is Aerotank, which is used to decompose the BOD
remaining in wastewater to simpler matters in aerobic condition. This condition is maintained by
1

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 15, District11, HCMC

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air blower operation. The mixed liquor in the aerotank is pumped to Settling tank for sludge
separation from this solution. The settled sludge at the bottom of this tank is returned to the
aerotank to maintain the biological microorganism concentration (80 90%). The exceed sludge
is pumped to Sludge drying bed to reduce the sludge moisture before going to landfill. The
treated wastewater flows to Water tank and goes to the receiving water.
Cosmetic
wastewater
Pump sum
Equalization tank
UASB
Aerotank

Air blower

Settling tank

Drying bed

Water tank

Receving
water
Figure 1: Diagram of treatment technology of the cosmetic WWTP

2.2.2. Investigated parameters and sample collection methods

To find the treatment performance of each system, these factors were investigated: COD (method
SMEWW 5220 C-1995), BOD5 (SMEWW 5210 B-1995), TSS (SMEWW 2540D-1995), pH
(TCVN 4459-88). Here is the way to collect samples: 500 ml glass bottles were used to collect
effluent sample from each stage of treatment. Duplicate samples were collected and stored in a
refrigerator. After collection, all the samples were processed in Environmental Engineering
Laboratory Institute of Environment and Resources, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi
Minh city.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The analyzed results of wastewater from the WWTP of Vinacosmo company were described in
Table 1.

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Table 1: The characteristics of the influent and the effluent of the WWTP of Vinacosmo Co.
Source: Green Tech Co., Feb 04, 2009

pH

COD,
mg/l

BOD5,
mg/l

Total suspended
solids, mg/l

Inlet

5,23

1533

930

870

Wastewater after UASB

8,57

800

480

186

Effluent

7,61

56

34

32

Standard TCVN 5945:2005, B level

5,5-9

80

50

100

3.1 COD removal performance

Figure 2 shows the COD removal performance of the cosmetic WWTP. The results of COD
treatment are 47.8% v 96.35% after UASB and Aerotank, respectively.

Hnh 2: COD removal performance of the cosmetic WWTP

% CODtreated=(CODinffluent CODeffluent)/CODinffluent

3.2 BOD removal performance

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Figure 3: BOD removal performance of the cosmetic WWTP

Figure 3 shows that the BOD removal performance of the cosmetic WWTP in Vinacosmo
company is high and meets the required standard. In the WWTP, the treated BOD efficiency
which is 96.34% after biological aerobic tank proves the correctness of our chosen technology.
3.3 Suspended solids removal performance

Figure 4: SS removal performance of the cosmetic WWTP

Similar to other investigated parameters, suspended solids were treated effectively in the
cosmetic WWTP of Vinacosmo company. The SS removal performance of UASB is up to 78.6%
and that of Aerotank is as high as 96.3%. Effluent meets the standard TCVN 5945:2005, level B.
4. CONCLUSIONS
-

All factors in the effluent of the WWTP meet the TCVN 5945:2005, B level.

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 15, District11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645 Fax: 08.38665644
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REFERENCES
Carr, Charles W. et al. Method for treatment & decolorization of wastewater from cosmetic
manufacturing processes. US Patent 5429747, 1994.