COLLEGE NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL

SCENES
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
SCHOOL OF POSTE GRADUATE STUDIES
SPECIALIZATION IN APPLIED MICRO BIOLOGY
Course title: environmental microbial biotechnology
Cours e c ode :( Bio 5225)
WASTE WATER TREATMENT
(CHEMICAL METHOD)
PREPARED:
BY:
GEDIYON AWANO
IDNO…………

SUBMITTED TO: ALEMAYEHU G (PHD)

SUMMATION DATE: 27/09/2015 E C
Contents
1.Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3
2. Methods and Materials............................................................................................................. 3
3. Chemical Treatment Methods..................................................................................................4
3.1.1 Chemical precipitation.................................................................................................4
3.1.2 Chemical oxidation......................................................................................................5
3.1.3 Ion exchange............................................................................................................... 5
3.1.5 Adsorption................................................................................................................... 7
3.1.6 Disinfection.................................................................................................................. 7
3.2 Benefits of Chemical Treatment.........................................................................................8
3.3 Drawbacks of Chemical Treatment....................................................................................8
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 9
Reference.................................................................................................................................. 10
1. Introduction
Waste water treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and making it
safe to be returned to the environment or reused. Wastewater can come from a variety of sources,
including homes, businesses, and industries. It contains a variety of contaminants, including
organic matter, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Waste water treatment is an important process for protecting public health and the environment.
It helps to prevent the spread of disease, protect water quality, and conserve water resources
(WEF, 2017).

There are a variety of methods used to treat wastewater, including physical, chemical, and
biological processes. Physical processes, such as screening, grit removal, and settling, are used to
remove large particles and solids from wastewater. Chemical processes, such as chlorination and
ozone treatment, are used to kill bacteria and viruses. Biological processes, such as activated
sludge treatment and trickling filter treatment, are used to break down organic matter (Metcalf &
Eddy, 2014).

Chemical treatment is an effective method of wastewater treatment, but it is important to weigh

the benefits and drawbacks before choosing this method. Chemical treatment can be a good
option for wastewater treatment when the pollutants that need to be removed are not easily
removed by other methods, such as biological treatment. However, it is important to be aware of
the potential drawbacks of chemical treatment, such as the production of harmful byproducts, the
energy requirements, and the potential for corrosion (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

2. Methods and Materials

The paper has applied an in depth literature review to collect the data. The data collected were
mainly secondary in nature as well as qualitative and quantitative forms. These data were
gathered using documents analysis of several studies conducted on waste water treatment by
chemical methods. These sources are therefore the reports, the journal articles and the conference
proceedings. As a final point, the required data were presented through narration.
3. Chemical Treatment Methods
3.1.1 Chemical precipitation

Chemical precipitation is a wastewater treatment method that uses chemicals to cause suspended
particles in wastewater to clump together and form larger particles that can be easily removed.
The chemicals used in chemical precipitation are called precipitants. Precipitants are typically
inorganic compounds, such as lime (calcium hydroxide), alum (aluminum sulfate), and ferric
chloride (iron chloride) (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014)..

The process of chemical precipitation begins with the addition of a coagulant to the wastewater.
A coagulant is a chemical that helps to destabilize the suspended particles in the wastewater.
This makes the particles more likely to clump together. The most common coagulant used in
chemical precipitation is alum. After the coagulant is added, the wastewater is mixed. This
mixing helps to distribute the coagulant evenly throughout the wastewater and to promote the
clumping of the suspended particles. Once the suspended particles have clumped together, they
form larger particles called flocs. The flocs are then allowed to settle out of the wastewater. The
settled flocs can then be removed from the wastewater by sedimentation, filtration, or
centrifugation (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Chemical precipitation is an effective method of removing a variety of pollutants from

wastewater. It can be used to remove suspended solids, nutrients, heavy metals, and organic
matter. Chemical precipitation is also a relatively inexpensive method of wastewater treatment.
However, chemical precipitation can also have some drawbacks. One drawback is that it can
produce harmful byproducts. For example, the use of lime can produce calcium carbonate, which
can precipitate out of solution and form scale. Scale can build up on equipment and pipes, which
can reduce efficiency and increase maintenance costs. Another drawback of chemical
precipitation is that it can be energy-intensive. The mixing and settling processes require energy,
which can add to the cost of wastewater treatment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014)..

Overall, chemical precipitation is an effective method of wastewater treatment that can be used
to remove a variety of pollutants. However, it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks
of this method before choosing it for wastewater treatment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).
3.1.2 Chemical oxidation

Chemical oxidation is a wastewater treatment process that uses chemicals to break down organic
matter and other pollutants in wastewater. This process can be used to treat a variety of
wastewaters, including municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, and agricultural wastewater
(Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

There are a variety of chemicals that can be used for chemical oxidation, including ozone,
chlorine, and potassium permanganate. The type of chemical that is used depends on the type of
wastewater being treated and the pollutants that need to be removed (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Chemical oxidation is an effective method for removing a wide variety of pollutants from
wastewater. It can be used to remove organic matter, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. However,
chemical oxidation can also produce harmful byproducts, such as chlorinated organic compounds
(Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

3.1.3 Ion exchange

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange is a process that uses resins to remove ions from wastewater. Resins are made of
tiny beads that have a positive or negative charge. When wastewater flows through the resin, the
ions in the wastewater are attracted to the resin and are exchanged for the ions that are already on
the resin (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Ion exchange can be used to remove a variety of ions from wastewater, including:

● Heavy metals
● Nutrients
● Pharmaceuticals
● Radioactive contaminants

Ion exchange is a relatively efficient and effective method of wastewater treatment. It is also
relatively inexpensive and easy to operate. However, ion exchange can also produce harmful
byproducts, such as brine and concentrated pollutants (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).
Benefits of Ion Exchange

There are several benefits to using ion exchange for wastewater treatment (Metcalf & Eddy,
2014). These include:

● High efficiency: Ion exchange can remove a wide variety of ions from wastewater,
including heavy metals, nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and radioactive contaminants.
● Low cost: Ion exchange is relatively inexpensive to operate.
● Ease of operation: Ion exchange is relatively easy to operate and maintain.

Drawbacks of Ion Exchange

There are also some drawbacks to using ion exchange for wastewater treatment (Metcalf &
Eddy, 2014). These include:

● Byproduct production: Ion exchange can produce harmful byproducts, such as brine
and concentrated pollutants.
● Limited capacity: Ion exchange resins have a limited capacity to remove ions. Once the
resins are saturated, they must be regenerated or replaced.
● Regeneration chemicals: Ion exchange resins must be regenerated using chemicals,
which can be expensive and hazardous.

Ion exchange is a valuable tool for wastewater treatment. It can be used to remove a variety of
pollutants from wastewater, making it safe for discharge into the environment. However, it is
important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of ion exchange before choosing this method of
wastewater treatment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

3.1.5 Adsorption

Adsorption is a process that involves the accumulation of a substance on the surface of a solid.
This process can be used to remove pollutants from wastewater. The adsorbent material is
typically a porous solid, such as activated carbon, alumina, or silica. The pollutants are attracted
to the surface of the adsorbent material by van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, or hydrogen
bonding (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Adsorption is a versatile process that can be used to remove a wide variety of pollutants from
wastewater. These pollutants include organic matter, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals.
Adsorption is also a relatively inexpensive process (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).
However, adsorption has some limitations. The adsorbent material can become saturated with
pollutants, and the process can be slow. Adsorption can also be energy-intensive, and the
adsorbent material can need to be replaced periodically (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Despite these limitations, adsorption is a valuable tool for wastewater treatment. It is a cost-
effective and efficient way to remove a wide variety of pollutants from wastewater (Metcalf &
Eddy, 2014).

3.1.6 Disinfection

Disinfection is the process of killing harmful bacteria and viruses in wastewater. Disinfection is
an important step in wastewater treatment because it helps to protect public health and the
environment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

There are a variety of methods used to disinfect wastewater (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014). The most
common methods include:

● Chlorination: Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used in wastewater treatment.

Chlorine kills bacteria and viruses by reacting with their cell membranes.
● Ozonation: Ozone is a powerful disinfectant that is more effective than chlorine at
killing bacteria and viruses. Ozone is also more effective at removing organic matter
from wastewater.
● Ultraviolet (UV) radiation: UV radiation is a form of non-chemical disinfection. UV
radiation kills bacteria and viruses by damaging their DNA.

The type of disinfection that is used depends on the source of the wastewater, the pollutants that
need to be removed, and the desired level of treatment.

3.2 Benefits of Chemical Treatment

There are many benefits to using chemical treatment for wastewater treatment (Metcalf & Eddy,
2014). Some of the benefits include:

● Effectiveness: Chemical treatment can be very effective at removing a wide variety of

pollutants from wastewater. This includes organic matter, bacteria, viruses, and
chemicals.
 ● Versatility: Chemical treatment can be used to treat wastewater from a variety of
sources, including homes, businesses, and industries.
● Cost-effectiveness: Chemical treatment can be relatively inexpensive, especially when
compared to other methods of wastewater treatment, such as biological treatment.

Chemical treatment is an effective method of wastewater treatment, but it is important to weigh

the benefits and drawbacks before choosing this method. The environmental impact, safety, and
operator skill requirements should all be considered when making a decision about whether or
not to use chemical treatment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

3.3 Drawbacks of Chemical Treatment

Can produce harmful by products: Chemical wastewater treatment methods can produce
harmful byproducts, such as chlorinated organic compounds and heavy metals. These byproducts
can be harmful to human health and the environment (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Can be energy-intensive: Chemical wastewater treatment methods can be energy-intensive.

This is because the chemicals used in these methods need to be heated or mixed in order to be
effective (Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Can be corrosive: Chemical wastewater treatment methods can be corrosive to the equipment
used in these processes. This can lead to equipment failure and increased maintenance costs
(Metcalf & Eddy, 2014).

Chemical wastewater treatment methods are effective in removing a wide variety of pollutants,
but they also have some drawbacks. These drawbacks include the potential to produce harmful
byproducts, be energy-intensive, and be corrosive. When choosing a wastewater treatment
method, it is important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each method (Metcalf & Eddy,
2014).
Conclusion
Chemical treatment is an effective method of wastewater treatment, but it is important to weigh
the benefits and drawbacks before choosing this method. Chemical treatment can be a good
option for wastewater treatment, but it is important to choose the right chemicals and to use them
properly.
Reference
Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (2014). Wastewater Treatment: Principles and Practices. 5th ed. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Water Environment Federation (2017). Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations and
Maintenance. 4th ed. Alexandria, VA: Water Environment Federation.