Global demand for energy is expected to continue growing substantially and it's widely

recognized that alternative, sustainable solutions need to be found to address those needs. Lots
of people in the energy industry believe biofuel could be the answer, viewing it as vitally
important to future energy production because of its clean and renewable properties. There is
growing interest in biofuels in many developing countries as a means of “modernizing” biomass
use and providing greater access to clean liquid fuels while helping to address energy costs,
energy security and global warming concerns associated with petroleum fuels (Vaishali Singh
2019).

Biofuel functions similarly to nonrenewable fossil fuels. Both burn when ignited, releasing
energy that can be used to power cars or heat homes. The main difference between them is that
biofuels can be grown indefinitely and generally cause less damage to the planet.

Many industrialized countries are pursuing the development of expanded or new biofuels
industries for the transport sector, and there is growing interest in many developing countries for
similarly “modernizing” the use of biomass in their countries and providing greater access to
clean liquid fuels. Biofuels may be of special interest in many developing countries for several
reasons. Climates in many of the countries are well suited to growing biomass. Biomass
production is inherently rural and labour-intensive, and thus may offer the prospects for new
employment in regions where the majority of populations typically reside. Restoration of
degraded lands via biomass-energy production may also be of interest in some areas(Munoz-
Cupa, Hu et al. 2021)
Basics Of wastewater treatment Plant :

Wastewater is the stream of polluted water that is released from residences, business, factories,
commercial enterprises, and institutions and is routed to treatment facilities by a properly
planned and engineered network of pipes. The process that takes place in a wastewater treatment
facility is quite similar to what happens naturally in an ocean, lake, river, or stream. A
wastewater treatment facility's purpose is to accelerate this natural purification process.( City of
guleph reference ) The Primary secondary and tertiary stages of wastewater treatment are the
fundamental stages of a wasterwatere treatment process. Solids are removed from wastewater
during the primary stage by allowing them to settle. The secondary stage further cleans
wastewater using biological procedures. These stages are occasionally integrated into a single
operation.(US EPA).
 ******Plant info*****

Primary treatment :

Material that would either float or easily settle out by gravity is removed during first treatment. It
involves the mechanical procedures of comminution, grit removal, screening, and sedimentation.
(brittanica )

Secondary treatment :

The second step of wastewater treatment is known as secondary treatment. Oil, grease, and
colloidal particles are eliminated during basic treatment. To eliminate the organic stuff present,
biological treatment is applied to the wastewater during secondary treatment.(Envisol)

https://www.arvindenvisol.com/secondary-wastewater-treatment/

Tertiary wastewater treatment :

Sedimentation and oils are often eliminated during the mechanical treatment step. In the
biological stage to guarantee a high removal of dissolved or suspended organic
materials.However, there are frequently contaminants that are resistant to elimination and are
released into untreated natural watercourses. Even if they are present in trace amounts in
drinking water, these resistant compounds can harm people's health. As a result, the idea of
"tertiary treatment" or "advanced treatment" of wastewater was introduced. (THE TERTIARY
TREATMENT STAGE OF WASTEWATER L.M. BOERIU1 I.L. CIRSTOLOVEAN1 M.
FRATU1 C. NASTAC1)

After secondary treatment, effluent is subjected to tertiary treatment, which comprises a number
of additional procedures to further decrease organics, turbidity, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, and
pathogens. A physicochemical treatment of some kind is used in the majority of operations,
including coagulation, filtration, organics adsorption on activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and
further disinfection. After wastewater is discharged into rivers or lakes, tertiary treatment is used
to further preserve animals.(The impact of wastewater treatment plants on global climate change
João Paulo Bassin, ... Isabelli Dias Bassin, in Water Conservation in the Era of Global Climate
Change, 2021)

The breakdown of organic contaminants in wastewater and effluents has been mostly
accomplished using photocatalytic reactions during the last few decades. Advanced oxidation
techniques (AOPs), which completely mineralize the majority of organic pollutants, have been
developed as a new destruction technology.( Suresh C. Ameta, in Advanced Oxidation Processes
for Waste Water Treatment, 2018)

Polymers :

PBSA (Bionolle 3020)

Poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) Bionolle 3020 is a polybutylene

succinate. It is an aliphatic polymer resin with the same plastic-like flexibility. When
microorganisms like compost, moist soil, fresh water, seawater, and activated sludge are present,
the material becomes biodegradable. It is referred to as "Eco-friendly material" since it will
entirely break down into carbon dioxide and water because all three basic elements can be
formed either by fermentation using renewable material like glucose and sucrose or using
petroleum-based feedstock. It degrades quickly and has a low modulus. When used with
traditional blown film extruders, it is ideal for blown-film extrusion and makes it easier to
produce thin, high-quality film. Bionolle film exhibits outstanding mechanical qualities
comparable to LLDPE film. Mulching film, trash bags, plant pots, filament, yarn, nets, bottles,
gloves, containers, laminated paper, trays, combs, golf tees, foamed tubes, fan frames, and pegs
are among the items made with Bionolle 3020.

Because of its mechanical qualities and service temperatures that are comparable to those of
commonly used polyolefins, PBSA Bionolle 3020 is a particularly alluring biopolymer. It is far
more flexible than polylactic acid (PLA), as a result, does not require plasticizers. Additionally,
it is simpler to produce than PLA since it has a lower melting point (112°C vs. 160°C).

Bionolle 3020 MD - SHOWA DENKO (specialchem.com)

PS 158K

The general-purpose type of polystyrene PS 158K (Styrolution) is resistant to heat and quick to
freeze. It is appropriate for expanded sheet and film, combines with high impact Styrolution PS
in heat contact applications, and blends with Styrolux in transparent, impact-resistant
applications.

Styrolution PS 158K is a recommended product for the fabrication of film and transparent sheet
for showcasing & displays, electronic goods, everyday products, photo frames, and building
materials. It is designed for injection moldings. It is also appropriate for highly-quality foamed
objects that have been physically and chemically foamed, such as foam containers, labels, and
profiles (PSP/XPS). Styrolution PS 158K is used as an alternative to styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)
in several applications, including the components of pens and water filtration containers. It can
be used to combine with Styrolux and high impact polystyrene (HIPS).

Styrolution PS 158K - INEOS Styrolution Group (specialchem.com)

PC 2605

The general-purpose polycarbonate (PC) grade 2605 has a medium viscosity and provides quick
release, high temperature resistance, high strength, excellent dimensional stability, high creep
modulus, and good electrical insulating qualities. Products created from Polycarbonate 2605
offer toughness, effective reusability, and reductions in energy use and CO2 emissions.
Moreover, it features a glass-like, scratch-proof surface and a deep, black glossy effect, which
enlarges the appearance of the glass surface and conceals the bodywork structure. Furthermore, it
may be processed by injection molding process and is used in automobile applications like the
panoramic tilt roof as well as electronic and electrical appliances.

In addition to a large selection of customized transparent, hazy, and opaque colours,

Polycarbonate 2605 is also a clear material with up to 85% light transmission. The main
drawbacks of PC 2605 are its propensity to scratch and susceptibility to turn yellow after
prolonged UV exposure. However, these flaws are often covered up by coatings and additives.
However, after repeatedly being exposed to water at temperatures exceeding 160F, PC 2605 will
experience stress cracking.

Makrolon 2605 - Covestro (specialchem.com)

PBT (Ultradur B4500)

The Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) Ultradur B4500 is a particular injection molding material
for the manufacturing of thin-walled profiles and pipelines as well as high-precision, high-
toughness, and dimensionally stable engineering products. It complies with 21 CFR 177.1660 of
the FDA.

At temperatures up to 280°C, PBT Ultradur B4500 melting is stable and do not pose any risks
from molecular breakdown or the emergence of gases and vapors. However, PBT Ultradur
B4500, like all thermoplastic polymers, degrades when subjected to extreme thermal stresses,
such as when it is overheated or because of cleanup by burning off. Tetrahydrofuran and carbon
monoxide are released at temperatures greater than 290 °C. The presence of other harmful
chemicals is possible in certain fire circumstances. The fire conditions affect the production of
additional breakdown and oxidation products. No health hazards should be anticipated when
PBT Ultradur B4500 is processed properly due to sufficient suction.

PBT Ultradur B4500 is particularly significant because of its minimal water absorption, which
makes its mechanical and electrical qualities essentially independent of surrounding weather and
moisture levels.
Ultradur® B 4500 - Product Datasheet (cn-plas.com)

Previous studies on wwt using polymers?

Polymers are generally used in wastewater treatment facilities to assist in managing the sludge
drying and consolidation process. The usual composition of the sludge produced during the
wastewater treatment process is a blend of 90–95% water and 5–10% waste. Along with
manpower and energy expenditures, moving and disposing of water-heavy sludge, also known as
"biosolids" or "solids," is typically one of the biggest expenses for wastewater treatment plants.
Because even perfectly pure water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon and a mixture of 90–95 percent
water sludge is exceedingly costly to transfer, handle, and dispose of.

Due to the chemical constitution and composition of the polymers, such as the presence of
numerous functional groups, the use of natural polymers (from plant or animal sources) is a
potential strategy for treating wastewater and removal of dyes.

The cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can improve the clearance of
Algal growth by froth flotation. An earlier study found that anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate
only removed 19% of the algal growth, while CTAB removed 90% of the algae.

The production of highly polluted wastewater by the leather industry is widely documented.
These wastewaters typically include heightened salinity, high organic loading, high levels of
ammonia and organic nitrogen, and the presence of contaminants such sulphide and chromium.
Polyanionic cellulose (PAC) was employed in one study to remediate a chromium-rich tannery
effluent. A high MW, medium charge density cationic polymer was used because the solids load
was too high. This provided superior turbidity removal at a 25 mg/L dosage than 100 mg/L of
PAC.

Paper mill effluents can have their colour removed using polyethylenimine (PEI). The most
effective structure was a branched chain variation of MW 1800, which removed 85–90% of the
colour at pH 8.5 with dosages of 550–800 mg/L. Papermaking wastewaters that had been pre-
treated with chitosan and DAF were taken into consideration in a study by Miranda et al. An
anionic bentonite microparticle version and a quaternary ammonium version were tested
separately and together. Results demonstrated that a low MW chitosan was superior than a
medium MW chitosan in terms of effectiveness.

To evaluate the effectiveness of polymers as coagulant aids, several industrial wastewater

samples were treated with and without polymers in the study. Polyacrylamide (PAM),
Polyacrylic acid (PAA), and Hydrolyzed polyacrylamide are the coagulants (HPAM) employed.
They were discovered to increase COD removal efficiency by a maximum of 46% and turbidity
removal efficiency by 69%.

The polymer composition and the following membrane characteristics were used to assess the
performance of porous membranes used in the recovery and separation of oil and heavy metals
from wastewater: hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, porosity, carrier (composition and
concentration), selectivity, fouling, durability, separation effectiveness, and operating conditions.

The study was made to evaluate the efficiency of polymer addition to the effluent from aeration
tanks before sludge flotation as used in a slaughterhouse wastewater treatment facility. Prior to
sludge flotation, the facility now employs 10 mg/l of polymer, although alternative, less
expensive compounds like alum may be just as effective. The Standard Jar test was used in tests
to evaluate the performance of both alum (Al2SO4 6H2O) and organic polymer. Alum dosages
ranged from 0 to 1000 mg/l, whereas polymer dosages ranged from 0 to 90 mg/l.

References:

 Reducing Polymers In Wastewater Treatment, Wastewater Treatment Plant

(neowatertreatment.com)
 (PDF) The Use of Polymers in the Flotation Treatment of Wastewater (researchgate.net)
 Polymer Application Examples in Industrial Wastewater Treatment | SpringerLink
 Porous polymer membranes used for wastewater treatment (researchgate.net)
 Al-Mutairi, N. Z., Hamoda, M. F., & Al-Ghusain, I. (2004). Coagulant selection and
sludge conditioning in a slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant. Bioresource
technology, 95(2), 115-119.