Ferritization-Based Treatment of Zinc-Containing Wastewater Flows: Influence of Aeration Rates

Currently, a major attention is paid to the development of integrated industrial wastewater treatment methods that ensure sufficient treatment efficiency for use of recycled water supply arrangements and further utilization of the treatment-generated waste. This paper dealt with the ferritization-based treatment of zinc-containing electroplating wastewater. Dependence of efficiency of heavy metal ions (HMIs) removal on aeration rates was determined. The highest efficiency of wastewater treatment was reached at low aeration rates. The influence of oxidant consumption on structure of ferritization treatment sediments was also studied. The sediments are chemically stable, have a dense crystalline structure and ferromagnetic properties. On the basis of experimental research, the optimal aeration rate for the ferritization treatment process was found to reach 0.5–1.5 dm³/min, allowing the reuse of the wastewater treatment effluent for on-site water supply.