Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2 Physico-chemical treatment
The material presented here gives an overview of the main technologies presently used in
the field of physico-chemical treatment. The special item of stabilisation and
solidification is addressed separately in Chapter 6.4.
The slides cover the main aspects of the different technologies, but they can be extended
with additional technical aspects according to the state of art in the countries (or groups)
on the training course. The slides can only address broad issues relating to the treatment
techniques. Trainers should add or adapt details of equipment, construction and
management aspects to meet local circumstances.
List of slides
Title slide
Slide 2 Physico-chemical treatment
Slide 3 Physico-chemical treatment facilities
Slide 4 Physico-chemical treatment in central treatment facility
Slide 5 Treatment residues
Slide 6 Physical processes
Slide 7 Separation
Slide 8 Adsorption
Slide 9 Sedimentation
Slide 10 Sedimentation - example
Slide 11 Flotation
Slide 12 Drying and evaporation
Slide 13 Drying and evaporation - example
Slide 14 Chemical processes
Slide 15 Reduction and oxidation
Background notes
1 Physical and chemical methods for the treatment of wastes involve a range of different
but commonly-used treatment processes, often used in combination, to separate or
transform hazardous substances. By definition they do not include biological processes.
2 The many advantages of physico-chemical treatment processes include the fact that
little energy is required.
4 Physico-chemical treatment of wastes can be used to deal with both solid and liquid
wastes, as well as organic and inorganic wastes, providing the appropriate processes are
used. However, both physical and chemical processes are specific for each waste,
requiring an in-depth knowledge of the waste to be treated and an understanding of a
variety of applications.
6 The facility design and equipment selection for physical-chemical treatment of waste
are determined by the properties and characteristics of the wastes which will be treated.
They are also influenced by the national and regional regulations and standards which are
in force.
Batstone, R; Smith, JE & Wilson, DC editors (1989) The safe disposal of hazardous
wastes: The special needs and problems of developing countries World Bank,
Washington, Technical paper No 93 Vol 2 in 3 volumes ISBN 0-8213-1144-1 (available
as pdf files from www.worldbank.org/publications/)
ISWA (2002) Safe hazardous waste management systems: a state of the art guide for
decision makers – forthcoming from www.iswa.org
LaGrega, MD; Buckingham, PL; Evans, JC & ERM Group (1994) Hazardous Waste
Management McGraw Hill, New York ISBN 0-07-019552-8
Nash, JM; Cheung, B; Fung, CH; Lei PK, Mak, PW; Rootham, RC; Stokoe, MJ & Tong,
R (1991) Control and treatment of hazardous (chemical) waste in Hong Kong Waste
Management & Research Vol 9 No 3
UNEP (1991) Hazardous waste policies and strategies – a training manual, Technical
report No 10 UNEP Industry & Environment Programme Activity Centre &
Environmental Education & Training Unit, Paris ISBN 92-807-1311-6
Web sites