November 22, 2019

Soap Industry

Types and Kinds of Disinfectants Used

In the disinfection of waste water from soap industries, chlorine is still one of the
most used disinfectant. This is due to the various treatment processes that precedes
disinfection which prepares the waste water for chlorination by lowering its pH and also
reducing its turbidity, since wastewater from soap industries are usually highly turbid
with high amounts of dissolved solids. Also, chlorine is the most feasible disinfectant
used in disinfection due to its low cost and easy production through electrolysis.
However, pre-chlorination processes are usually not done since it is ineffective at highly
turbid waters which deems it unnecessary.
Another effective method at disinfecting soap waste water is the use of Ozone.
Ozonation of soap waste water not only provides disinfection but also helps in removing
turbidity, COD, BOD, and TDS. It is the most effective method used in disinfection.
Ozonation processes have been mainly used for wastewater treatment to
decolorization, COD removal and separate suspended and/or fatty particles (Upadhyay,
2012). Ozone is a very reactive gas which can attack a wide range of microorganisms
and also degrade organic and inorganic pollutants present in the waste water. This
makes ozone the most powerful disinfection agent. Waste water disinfection by ozone
works through the use of a process called Ozonation. In ozonation, ozone gas is infused
into the water by the use of contact tanks to expose water surface to flowing ozone gas.
The only downside to use of ozonation is the production of ozone itself which requires
lots of energy which makes it costly to produce.
Another alternative method which can be used in disinfection of soap wastewater
is through the use of UV radiation. In the treatment process, UV radiation is provided by
the UV lamps installed under the flow of the wastewater. As the wastewater flows
through the area where the UV Lamps are installed, it absorbs the UV radiation. UV
radiation disinfects wastewater by destroying the genetic materials found inside the
microorganisms. Disinfection by UV radiation is also the safest and cleanest method
since it does not produce chemical byproducts and poses no risk to nearby personnel
since it is submerged underwater. UV radiation however only affects the
microorganisms that will be left after treatment with no other effects to wastewater
parameters and also no other effects which can be enhanced by other treatment
processes.
Percent Available Chlorine
According to American pool, the percent available chlorine assesses the best
disinfectant to be used in terms of its oxidizing power. For Soap Industry various
disinfectants were used as discussed in the previous parts of this paper, and on this
portion, the comparison of this different disinfectants will be discussed.
Based from Davis (2010), the main equation for the solving of percent available
chlorine are:
equivalent weight of Cl 2∈ compound
% available chlorine= ×100 %
equivalent weight of compound
Where:
Molecular weight
equivalent weight =
no . of electrons consumed

With Ozone, the oxidation-reduction reactions are:

O3 + 2H+ + 2e-  O2 + H2O

Cl2(g) + 2e-  2Cl-

From the half reactions:

g
70.9
mol
equivalent weight of Cl 2∈compound= −¿
2e ¿
g
equivalent weight of Cl 2∈compound=35.45
mol

g
48
mol
equivalent weight of Ozone= −¿
2e ¿
g
equivalent weight of Ozone=24
mol
For the percent available chlorine:
 g
35.45
mol
% available chlorine= ×100 %
g
24
mol
% available chlorine=147.7083 %
This value indicates that ozone, as a disinfectant, has a higher oxidizing power with
respect to chlorine.

While for Chlorine, the redox reactions are:

Cl2(g) + 2e-  2Cl-

Cl2(g) + 2e-  2Cl-

From the half reactions:

g
70.9
mol
equivalent weight of Cl 2∈compound= −¿
2e ¿
g
equivalent weight of Cl 2∈compound=35.45
mol

g
70.9
mol
equivalent weight of Chlorine= −¿
2e ¿
g
equivalent weight of Chlorine=35.45
mol
For the percent available chlorine:
35.45
% available chlorine= × 100 %
35.45
% available chlorine=100 %

Solving for their percent difference:

 % available chlorine Ozone −% available chlorine Chlorine
% differences= × 100 %
% available chlorine Chlorine
147.7083 %−100 %
% differences= ×100 %
100 %
% differences=47.7083 %

Comparing the values of the percent available chlorine for ozone and chlorine, it
could be observe that ozone has the higher value of 147.7083% indicating that it has a
higher oxidizing power than chlorine of 100%. This data also shows that it has a more
effective disinfecting property than chlorine by roughly 48 %.

II. Contact Time and the Herbert Watson’s equation

 The table above, from a site entitles ozone disinfection kinetics, shows the
different k values for each microorganism when ozone is used as a disinfectant. We
could simply solve for the contact time using the Herbert Watson equation shown below

C n tp=k '

mg
We could assume for a value of 3 concentration throughout the whole solving
l
of contact time. According to the site also, this data have been solved using a first order
kinetics so the value of n is assumed to be 1

For E.coli

mg 1 mg ∙ min
3 tp=0.009
l l
tp=0.003 min

For Legionella Pneumopila

mg 1 mg ∙min
3 tp=1.05
l l
tp=0.35 min

For Rotavirus

mg 1 mg ∙ min
3 tp=0.006
l l
tp=0.002 min
For Gardia Lamblia

mg 1 mg∙ min
3 tp=0.17
l l
tp=0.057 min

For Giardia Muris

mg 1 mg∙ min
3 tp=0.27
l l
tp=0.09 min

For Cryptosporidium Parvum

mg 1 mg ∙min
3 tp=5.39
l l
tp=1.7967 min

According to the site also, contact time between the ozone and water should not
exceed 5 minutes as it would decrease the probability of residual ozone in the system.
By this information, we could solve for the maximum concentration of ozone in order to
have a reduction of organisms to 99.99 percent.

For E.coli

mg∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=0.009
l
mg
C=0.0018
l

For Legionella Pneumopila

mg ∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=1.05
l
 mg
C=0.21
l

For Rotavirus
mg∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=0.006
l
mg
C=0.0012
l

For Gardia Lamblia

mg ∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=0.17
l
mg
C=0.034
l

For Giardia Muris

mg ∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=0.27
l
mg
C=0.054
l

For Cryptosporidium Parvum

mg ∙ min
C 1 ×5 min=5.39
l
mg
C=1.078
l

From this values, it is safe to conclude that in order to prevent the degradation of
ozone in the system, a maximum amount of 1.078 mg/l can be used to have a contact
time of exactly 5 minutes.
Concentration and Type of Chemical Agent

Soaps, form films that are hard to rinse especially in hard water, which contains
high concentrations of calcium and magnesium mineral salts. Detergents contain
synthetic surfactant molecules with both polar and nonpolar regions that have strong
cleansing activity but are more soluble, even in hard water, leaving behind no soapy
deposits. Anionic detergents, such as those used for laundry, have a negatively charged
anion at one end attached to a long hydrophobic chain, whereas cationic detergents
have a positively charged cation instead. Cationic detergents include an important class
of disinfectants and antiseptics called the quaternary ammonium salts. Quaternary
ammonium compounds (QACs, also called 'quats') are usually unscented, colorless,
nonirritating, and refreshing. They have detergent action, and are good disinfectants.
They are futile against viruses, spores and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Inactivation of
energy producing enzymes, denaturation of essential cell proteins, and disruption of the
cell membrane are the mode of action of these compounds. There are many different
QACs found in disinfectants or cleaning products. The most commonly used QAC
disinfectants are the benzalkonium chlorides, also known as alkyl dimethyl benzyl
ammonium.
 The concentration of benzalkonium chloride in disinfectants and cleaning
supplies is usually between 0.01 and 1%, but can be as high as 5%. Concentrated
solutions used for mixing can contain 25% or more. Other QACs in cleaning supplies
and disinfectants have similar concentrations.

Another chemical agent used is the pine oil. Pine oil, which was historically
obtained by distillation of pitch-filled pine wood, cones or needles, is now prepared
synthetically. It is a clear, colorless or amber- colored liquid, with a characteristic odor. If
used alone, it is insoluble in water and is therefore usually emulsified with soaps, or
mixed with detergents or other compounds. It is more effective as a general disinfectant
when applied hot.

Longstanding uncertainty exists with regard to the antimicrobial efficacy of pure

pine oil. In mixtures, it may be a valuable hygienic adjunct, if only for the warning
created by its characteristic smell.

Intensity and Nature of Physical Agents

Heat and light are physical agents used for the disinfection of
wastewater. Most of the time, the more intense a physical agents are, the more
rapidly the microorganisms are destroyed. Therefore, their effectiveness is a function
of intensity.
A. Heat
Moist heat readily kills other pathogenic microorganisms but is not high
enough to destroy bacterial endospores that may survive hours of boiling. At first,
effectiveness heat was expressed in terms of thermal death point (TDP), in 10
minutes, it is the lowest temperature at which a microbial suspension is killed.
Now, thermal death time (TDT) is more commonly used, in which it is the shortest
time to kill all organisms in a microbial suspension at a specific and defined
temperature and conditions.

B. Light
 Ultra Violet Light: UV filtration has been recognized by the EPA as one of four
approved methods of disinfecting water, which is more preferable over the other
methods due to its instantaneous effect and the fact that it does not leave any residual
chemicals in the water. It simply removes the risk of illness caused by microbial
contamination.
Water enters an ultraviolet sterilization chamber where any viruses, bacteria,
mold, or other living microorganisms are bombarded with special, intense light of a
specific wavelength (254íùm). The UV light penetrates the cell walls of the organisms
and attacks their DNA structure leaving the organism dead or unable to reproduce -
effectively neutralized. The effectiveness of a UV system in eliminating microbiological
contamination is directly dependent on the physical qualities and/or clarity of the water
supply.

III. Temperature
The temperature influences the effectiveness of disinfection. Increasing the
temperature usually increases the rate of disinfection. Increasing temperatures can also
decrease disinfection, because the disinfectant may fall apart or is volatize. Freezing
items at -20 C or lower stops microbial growth because the low temperature and the
absence of liquid water. Some microorganisms will be killed by ice crystal disruption of
cell membranes.
The effect of temperature on the rate of kill can be represented by the Van’t Hoff –
Arrhenius relationship;
t 1 E(T 2−T 1)
ln =
t 2 R(T 1)(T 2)
From the data given on the table above, solve for the contact time of the following
microorganisms: a) Rotavirus, b) Giardia Lamblia and c) Giardia muris, if the
temperature is to be raised by 20 degrees Celsius.

Solution:
a) Rotavirus

T1 = 5 ° C = 278.15 K pH = 7
T2 = 25 ° C = 298.15K E= 76 kJ/mol
(From Chapter II)
t 1 = 0.002 min

0.002 min 76 kJ /mol (25−5) K

ln =
t2 KJ 1 kmol
(8.314 )( )(278.15 K )(298.15 K )
kmol K 1000 mol
t 2=2.2060 x 10− 4 min

b) Giardia Lamblia
 T1 = 25 ° C = 298.15 K pH = 7
T2 = 45 ° C = 318.15K E= 76 kJ/mol
(From Chapter II)
t 1 = 0.0057 min

0.0057 min 76 kJ /mol (45−25) K

ln =
t2 KJ 1 kmol
(8.314 )( )(318.15 K)(298.15 K )
kmol K 1000 mol
t 2=8.2952 x 10−4 min
c) Giardia muris

T1 = 25 ° C = 298.15 K pH = 7
T2 = 45 ° C = 318.15K E= 76 kJ/mol
(From Chapter II)
t 1 = 0.09 min

0.09 min 76 kJ /mol(45−25) K

ln =
t2 KJ 1 kmol
(8.314 )( )(318.15 K )(298.15 K )
kmol K 1000 mol

t 2=0.0131 min
Number of Organisms Present
Suspended liquid or wastewater effluent from Soap and Detergent Industries
generally differs in their treatment processes. Treatment trains varies with the type of
manufacturing units in the industries. Thus, wastewater being generated varies in
quantity and quality.
Disinfection, as one of the treatment processes, also varies in terms of radiation,
chemical and physical agents that are to be used. Nature of the effluent based on its
COD, BOD, DO, Alkalinity, Turbidity and color determine the effectiveness of the
disinfectants.
To test the effectiveness of the disinfectant (ozone) on some of the parameters of
the wastewater effluent, data were gathered from a Soap and Detergent Industry in
Ujjain City, Madhya Pradesh, India. The industry manufactures white and black soap
using glycerin, caustic soda, fatty acids, animal and vegetable oils having anionic as
main surfactant.
One of the parameters is Turbidity. Turbidity describes the amount of light
scattered or blocked by suspended particles in a water sample. This is caused by
particles of soil, organic matter, metals, or similar matter suspended in the water
column. Wastewater being cloudy and murky has a high turbidity level whereas clear
water has a low turbidity. Turbidity of a drinking water by the World Health Organization
should not exceed 5 NTU.

Table 2 shows that the initial Turbidity of the water sample is 873 NTU thus
higher changes of suspended particles where microorganisms such as bacteria could
be entrapped. Still from the table above, as the reaction time of ozone increases the
turbidity decreases and the higher the dosage of the disinfectant being used the higher
the turbidity reduction.
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand, BOD, is a measure of oxygen-consuming
properties of the organic matters. BOD level of an unpolluted body of water is 1 ppm or
1 mg/L but for a wastewater, if untreated, ranges from 200-600 ppm. Higher BOD
denote the presence of organic matters ensuing higher number of bacteria present that
degrade organic’s quality.

From Table 7, initial BOD is 709.2 mg/L which is of high level that indicates
higher bacterial count on the effluent. It could also be seen from the table above that
upon addition of ozone with 19 mg/L the BOD level decreases with respect to increasing
time. Higher dosage of ozone reduces higher level of BOD and the higher the bacterial
count the longer the reaction time of ozone.
Alkalinity is a chemical measurement of a water’s ability to neutralize acids and
resist changes in pH upon addition of acids or bases. Alkalinity of drinking water ranges
from 20-200 mg/L. Low Alkalinity causes unstable pH while too-high Alkalinity reduces
the effect of disinfectant being used.
 From the table above, Table 8, initial alkalinity is 7000 mg/L which is too high
resulting in decreased effectiveness of the ozone. Addition of 19 mg/L of ozone as
reaction time of ozone increases, increases Alkalinity. Also the higher the concentration
of ozone the higher the increase in Alkalinity.
Concluding, the Ozonation process for the treatment of Soap and detergent
industry wastewater is effective. The overall percent of Turbidity reduction of 50.2%,
57.4% and 68.2% are measured for 19, 21.58 and 30.70 mg/L ozone doses
respectively. The overall percent of BOD reduction of 50.6%, 55.2% and 60.4% are
measured for 19, 21.58 and 30.70 mg/L ozone doses respectively. The overall
percentage of alkalinity increase of 35.6%, 32.4% and 27.8% are measured for 19,
21.58, 30.70 mg/L ozone doses respectively.

TYPES OF ORGANISMS

Soap and Detergent Industries generates stable and copious foams in their
wastewater. These foams generally form a thick and dense layer over the surface of
the water, extending over several hundreds of meters of the river water. These foams
also are possible habitat for microorganisms able resisting the disinfecting power of
detergents, such as mycobacteria and polio or hepatitis viruses. Human health is also
affected when surfactants arrive into drinking water.

Mycobacterium is of rod-shaped bacteria that causes tuberculosis and leprosy.

Some of these bacteria lives on decaying organic matters while others are parasites.
Oxidizing disinfectants such as chlorine, ozone, bromine, iodine, hydrogen peroxide and
UV radiation could be used to kill this microorganism. However, a specific type of this
bacteria known as Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) are relatively resistant to
standard water disinfection procedures therefore can occur in drinking water.
 Figure 1. Mycobacterial skin infection. A light photomicrograph showing some
of the histopathologic characteristics seen in a mycobacterial skin infection, such as
that caused by Mycobacterium leprae
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Sanz, J., Lombra, J.I., Ma De Luis, A. and Varona, F. 2003. UV/H2O2 chemical
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Keisuke Ikehata and Mohamed GamalEl-Din, 2004. Degradation of Recalcitrant

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