Biodegradability Enhancement of Two Xenobiotics in an Industrial Waste as Measured by Respirometry

Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether (Chlorex or CX) and 2-ethoxyethanol (Cellosolve or CS) were studied earlier to determine the toxicity level of each to the overall function of industrial waste stabilization ponds (Sullivan, 1988; Davis et al, 1989). These three waste stabilization ponds (WSP) operate in series at a major chemicals and plastics industry as follows. A set of primary anaerobic ponds of 28.8 ac (11.72 ha) are followed by a secondary facultative-anaerobic WSP of 153 ac (62.1 ha). That is followed by the tertiary WSP which has 246 ac (100 ha). The detention time through these ponds is 60, 50 and 40 days (150 total), respectively. The flow to the primary WSP is about 0.86 mgd (3.255 × 10 3m 3/d) and with other wastewater streams entering the secondary WSP, the final (tertiary) effluent flow is a maximum of 5.04 mgd (1.91 × 104m3/d). Depths in the ponds are 5–8 ft (1.5–2.4 m) for the primary, 5.6 ft (1.7 m) in the secondary, and 3 ft (0.9 m) in the tertiary WSP. Since the earlier work (Sullivan, 1988) showed the primary WSP influent to have been practically devoid of phosphorus, an investigation was initiated to determine whether the addition of nutrients to the influent would stimulate an oxygen uptake response. Nutrient enhancement of wastewater is not practiced as often as perhaps it should be. Bhargaua et al., (1986) achieved greater B.O.D. removal in WSP’s by nutrient supplementation of the wastewater.