CONNECT EGSB SYSTEM - ACTIVATED SLUDGE - FILTRATION FOR TEXTILE

WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Asso. Prof. Dr. TON THAT LANG (1)

Ho Chi Minh City University for Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam, hungnphuoc@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The results in lab-scale model running for 6 months showed that the EGSB aerotank filtration connected in series
has an ability to treat textile wastewater with high and stable efficiency (92 98% COD removal, 90 93% color removal), high
rate treatment with low hydraulic retention time (hydraulic retention time in the EGSB system is from 1.2 1.6 hours).
Effluent can meet the Vietnam environmental standard (COD < 35mg/L, color < 40 Pt Co). The treatment system has
reasonable cost for Vietnam enterprises. It needs to apply this technology in practice to have more experiences in operation
and improving this technology.

Keywords: textile wastewater, anaerobic treatment, EGSB

1. BACKGROUND Switzerland). Temperatures in the sludge was measured

Vietnam's garment industry are completed and
developed more than a century, has become one of the
important industries in society and our economy. In 10
industries bring high value to the country exports, the
textile industry ranks second, behind only oil and gas
industry.
However, this industry generates a large amount
of wastewater and difficult to handle. Wastewater from
dyeing processes causes aquatic environmental problems
if it is discharged directly into sewers without any
treatment. The presence of dyes in water prevents the
penetration of sunlight into the water, reducing
photosynthesis process, leads to the reduced levels of
dissolved oxygen in water and increase water pollution.
Dyes are toxic to some aquatic animals and the color of
dye loss aesthetics of the aquatic environment. Moreover,
in an anaerobic environment of dye reduction will be
made up of amino aromatic rings, these are toxic, cause
cancer and mutations of human and animals [1].
In our country, many wastewater treatment
plants to treat textile wastewater that developed by
foreign and local company. However, these technologies
have operating costs and high treatment costs, more than
10,000 VND/m3. In addition, most have treatment
technology is complex, occupying large areas of
construction, but in many wastewater plants after
treatment has not achieved the color standards of QCVN.
This practice requires the research to find a technology
that has high color removal and high organic pollution,
stability, low cost area and consistent with economic
viability of businesses in our country.
2. MODELS AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
2.1 Description of model
The experiment was conducted at the laboratory
of the Tropical Engineering and Environmental Protection
Institute, Tan Binh Dist., HCM City, Vietnam. Model
EGSB (Expanded Granular Sludge Bed) has glass diameter
0.05 m, volume 4.3 l (Figure 1). First on the model fitted
with a membrane filter (1 mm diameter openings) under
analyzer solid - liquid - gas. Water temperature can be
adjusted by two thermal systems (Fryka - Kaltechnik,
Germany and Geraetebau Rheinische GmbH,
by a thermometer (TES 1320 type - K, Taiwan). Methane
gas generated was measured by gas meter (Meterfaried,
Netherlands) after air led through NaOH (10% by weight)
and a granular soda ash column (Merck, Germany).
Influent can be adjusted by a metering pump (Watson
Marlow 501 U, UK) to provide water, mixed with dye
wastewater is provided by a different metering pump
(Gilson - Minipuls 3, Phop). The output of the effluent is
pumped back by another metering pump (Wason Marlow
502S, UK) to speed up and expand the column granules.
Wastewater and effluent mixed were the input of the
system.
EGSB model is running for six months to get
stable performance. Then the model was linked to the
activated sludge tank, settling tank and filteration tank.
Aeration tank was made by glass size 30 x 40 x 30cm, the
hips have a layer of paste form 25cm high glass walls,
creating an angle with the bottom surface 600. Aeration
tank is pumped through a 6-disc plastic aerator.
Connected to the aeration tank is made of glass tank size
20 x 20 x 40cm, cone bottom, 10 cm high. Sludge
circulation pumps (Japan) helps pump bottom sludge back
to aeration tank. Excess sludge is discharged out through a
plastic valve. After the wastewater through sedimentation
tanks will be put into a glass filter of size 10 x 10 x 60cm,
base 12cm high pyramid, filled with Gravel 10-15mm
diameter seeds. Layer of filter material in order from top
to bottom, including sand filters (10cm thick), activated
charcoal (20 cm thick), fine gravel size 3-5 mm (thickness
12cm). Activated Carbon from Tra Bac Company, Vietnam
has absorbed iodine index is 907mg /g, ash 3.1%,
maximum moisture content of 4.4%, particle size is 0.8 x 1,
6 mm.
This model used the granules sludge obtained
from a model used to run the textile wastewater using
EGSB system in 6 months. Sludge particles are added to
start operating model is 15g VSS /L. Granules are
screened through a backwash water system to remove
small particles. After 6 months of stable operation, the
model was linked to the activated sludge system,
sedimentation and filtration to examine the performance
of the system.
 5
8
7

9
1
6
1

2 3 4

1
2
3 0
1 Notes:
1: EGSB
3 2: Aerotank
3: Sedimentation tank
4: Filtration tank
5: Effluent
1

1 4
1
0

Figure 1. EGSB model - aerotank - sedimentation - filtration

2.2 Wastewater pH, COD, color and SS were determined by

The model provided wastewater from Saigon
textile factory with the influent has pH = 6.5 to 7.5, COD
800 - 1.200mg /L, the color from 150-300 Pt-Co,
supplemented with minerals. The chemicals used are
chemical analysis of Merck (Darmstadt, Germany).
2.3 Sampling and analysis
The samples were taken at the input and output
of the model after 3 times per week to analyze COD, color,
SS and are analyzed once a week. Daily water
temperature, pH, redox potential were measure and
observing the variation of the height of the sludge.
Table 1. Operation of the EGSB model with the actual wastewater
standard methods (Standard Methods, APHA, 1995) [6].
3. RESULTS - DISCUSSION
3.1 The results of the EGSB performance
The operating parameters of the EGSB model
with real wastewater are summarized in Table 1 and
variation of time of factors such as pH, temperature,
organic loading rate (OLR), Hydraulic retention time
(HRT), COD removal efficiency and dye removal
efficiency are shown in Figure 2.
 Stage Time (day) Substrate HRT OLR Efficiency (%)
(h) (g COD/L.ngy)
COD Color
I 0 - 33 Textile wastewater 9,6 -12,9 2,1 - 2,9 45 - 80 25 38
II 34 - 124 Textile wastewater 3,8 - 8,5 2,7 - 6,8 68 - 95 35 69
III 125 - 182 Textile wastewater 1,8 - 4,6 5,0 - 14,3 85 - 95 45 72
IV 183 - 245 Textile wastewater 0,9 - 2,6 10,0 - 25,6 85 - 95 48 - 65

The results of experiments show that:
- Due to time so long for model run, the value of
temperature changes in rather wide range (from 25 - 30 C).
More stable pH values, only changes between 6.5 to 7.5,
this is the appropriate pH range for microbial activity.
- Increasing the organic loading rate in the form
of stairs, but compared with synthetic wastewater, it may
take a long time (3 months), the new model reaches
10gCOD/L.d value, because the substrates in wastewater
are VFA, dyes and starch is more easily biodegradable
substrate to compare with real textile wastewater [3].
Maximum load tolerance of the model reaches the value of
25g COD/L.d with efficiency 90%.
- HRT during start up system is 13 hours, then
gradually reduce HRT, the minimum value of HRT of the
model can reach is 1 hour.
- COD removal efficiency reached a value greater
than 80% after 50 days of operation of the system and
reach 90% stable value corresponding to organic loading
3.2 The operating parameters and efficiency of aerobic
biological tank (aerotank)
o
The operating parameters of the model and
processor performance color and COD are shown in
Figure 3.
The results of experiments show that adaptive
process is done with organic loading 0.2 kgCOD/m 3.day
with hydraulic retention time of 15 hours - 18 hours. COD
removal efficiency after three weeks of operation from 26-
30% and color removal efficiency from 35-42%. This result
is similar to the findings of Abraham and collaborators [5],
Aysegul et al [6], Idaka et al. [8], Lambert et al. [9], Shaul
et al [10] when studying the adsorption capacity of
activated sludge color. This performance corresponds to
previous studies of Lam Minh Triet et al., 2000 [4] applied
to activated sludge treatment of wastewater color for
Vikotek plant (Efficiency is 40%). Efficiency increases over
time and reached values of 70-72% with 0.8
kgCOD.m /day organic loading. This result is lower than
3

25gCOD/L.ngay. However, color removal efficency of the the results of Lam Minh Triet et al. [4] (Efficiency can
system is not high, with color values in the input is low reach 80% at organic loading 0.5 - 1kgCOD/L.ngay).
(150-300 Pt - Co), the highest efficiency can reach from 60- However, after treatment with activated sludge
65%, lower than model used the synthetic wastewater COD concentration in output of the model varies in the
treatment (Efficiency reaches values 90-95%). This shows range 45 - 105mg /L, color is in the range of 100-150 Pt -
the complexity of real wastewater with synthetic Co, still exceeding the QCVN. Therefore, it needs to link
wastewater. With this performance, EGSB technology can EGSB with aerobic activated sludge technology to
not ensure quality treatment effluent. Therefore, EGSB continue processing organic pollutants and color
technology will be connected with activated sludge tank remaining in the effluent.
to further decomposition of organic matter, adsorption of
the dye hardly biodegradable, ensuring effluent can get
standard.

Figure 2. The kinetics of anaerobic degradation of textile wastewater.

 A: variation of temperature and pH, B: variation of OLR and HRT;
C: variation of COD and color removal efficiency

Figure 2. Kinetics of the aerobic degradation of textile wastewater

A: variation of temperature and pH, B: variation of OLR and HRT;
C: variation of COD and color removal efficiency

3.3 THE OPERATING PARAMETERS AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE FILTRATION
The effluent from the activated sludge system is
passed through a sedimentation tank and filter. Filtration
rate is changed in the range from 0.2 to 0.4 m / hour.
Variation of the processing performance of COD and color
are shown in Figure 4. The results showed that an effective
filtration cycle time of about 40-45 days, after this cycle the
efficiency is lower, the need to replace or backwash filter
material layer. COD removal efficiency varies in the range
55-75%, color removal efficiency changes from 55-80%.
This value is lower than the values reported by Nguyen
Van Phuoc et al. [2], the COD removal efficiency reached change from 15 - 40 mg / L, 15-50 Pt - Co, meets the
90% of value, color removal efficiency reached 95% value. requirements of QCVN.
After filtration system, COD and color values lower,

Efficiency (%)
100 100
80 80
60 60
40 40
COD removal efficiency (%)
20 20
Color removal efficiency (%)
0 0
1 31 61 91
Time (date)

Figure 3. Performance changes of color and COD treatment after filtering

4. CONCLUSION
EGSB - aerobic filtration system is able to treat
textile wastewater with high efficiency performance,
stability, cost consistent with our enterprises. This system 5. Lambert S.D., Graham N.J.D., Sollars C.J. and Fowler

should be expanded in practice to have experience G.D. (1997), Evaluation of inorganic adsorbents for the removal

operating and improving technology.. of problematic textile dyes and pesticides, Wat. Sci. Tech., Vol.
36, No. 2-3, pp. 173-180

REFERENCES
6. Lang, T.T (2004), Model EGSB and its apply in
wastewater treatment, Mete-hydrological Newspaper, 1-2004.

1. Abraham R. et Harold SF. (1996), Carbon adsorption of

dyes and selected intermediates USA, John Wiley & Son, 7. Phong, D.T. (2003), Ecological and environment in textile

USA. industry, Science and Technology publisher, Ha Noi.

2. American Public Health Association (1995), Standard 8. Phuoc N.V, Nam H.M., Ky L.T., Binh N.Q, Hang H.T.

methods for the Examination of water and wastewaters, APHA, (1999), Research on the adsorption of dyes on acivated

Washington, USA. carbon, EPA, Ha Noi.

3. Aysegul P. and Enis T. (2001), Color removal from cotton 9. Shaul G.M., C. R. Dempsey and K. A. Dostal (1987), Fate

textile Industry wastewater in an activated sludge system with of Water Soluble Azo Dyes in the Activated Sludge Process,

various additives, Dokuz Eylul University, Kaynaklar U.S. EPA Water Engineering Research Laboratory,

Campus, Izmir, Turkey. Cincinnati, Ohio.

4. Idaka E. , Ogawa T., Yatome C. and Horitsu H. (1985), 10. Triet LM., Dan NP. and Cuong TM. (2000), Carried out

Behavior of Activated sludge with dyes, Bull. Environ. the wastewater treatment technology for textile industry in

Contam. Toxicol, Vol. 35, pp. 729- 734

Vietnam condition, HCM city conference for Science and
technology.