CHEMICAL UNIT

PROCESSES
 Chemical Unit Processes are used for the treatment
of wastewater in which change is brought about by means
of or through chemical reaction. In the field of wastewater
treatment, chemical unit processes are usually used in
conjunction with the physical unit operation, and the
biological unit processes, to meet treatment objectives.
In considering the application of the following chemical
unit operations, it is important to remember that one of
the inherent disadvantages associated with most chemical
unit processes, as compared with the physical unit
operations, is that they are additive processes.
Applications of Chemical Unit Processes in Wastewater Treatment
Chemical Precipitation
Adsorption
Disinfection
Disinfection with Chlorine
Dechloronation
Disinfection with Chlorine
Dioxide
Disinfection with Bromine
Chloride
Disinfection with Ozone
Disinfection with Ultraviolet
Light
Other Chemical Applications
Removal of phosphorous and enhancement of suspended solids
removal in primary sedimentation facilities used for physical-chemical
treatment
Removal of organics not removed by conventional chemicals and
biological treatment methods. Also used for dechloronation of
wastewater before final discharge for treated effluent.
Selective destruction of disease-causing organisms
Selective destruction of disease causing organisms
Removal of total combined chlorine residual that exists after
chlorination
Selective destruction of disease-causing organisms
Selective destruction of disease-causing organisms
Selective destruction of disease-causing organisms
Selective destruction of disease-causing organisms
Various other chemicals can be used to achieve specific objectives in
wastewater treatment
 Chemical Precipitation
• Chemical precipitation in wastewater treatment involves the
addition of chemicals to alter the physical state of dissolved and
suspended solids and to facilitate their removal by
sedimentation.
The purpose of this section is to identify and discuss
1. Precipitation reactions that occur when various chemicals are
added to improve the performance of wastewater treatment
facilities
2. The chemical reactions involved in the precipitation of
phosphorous from wastewater
3. Some of the more important theoretical aspects of chemical
precipitation.
Chemical Precipitation for Improving Plant Performance

• Chemical precipitation was used to enhance the

degree of suspended solids and BOD removal
1. Where there were seasonal variations in the
concentration of the wastewater
2. Where an intermediate degree of treatment
was required
3. As an aid to the sedimentation process
 Chemicals used in wastewater treatment
• Alum Al2(SO4)3 * 18H2Oa
• Ferric Chloride FeCl3
• Ferric Sulfate Fe2(SO4)3
Fe2(SO4)3 * 3H20
• Ferrous Sulfate (copperas) FeSO4 * 7H20
• Lime Ca(OH)2
Chemical Precipitation for Phosphate Removal

• The removal of phosphorous from

wastewater involves the incorporation of
phosphate into suspended solids and the
subsequent removal of those solids.
• The topics to be considered include
1. The strategies for phosphorous removal
2. The chemistry of phosphate precipitation
 Strategies for Phosphate Removal
• Pre-precipitation
The addition of chemicals to raw wastewater for the
precipitation of phosphorous in primary sedimentation
facilities is termed “pre-precipitation” - the precipitated
phosphate is removed with the primary sludge.
• Co-precipitation
The addition of chemicals to form precipitates that are
removed along with waste biological sludge is defined as
“co-precipitation”. Chemicals can be added to 1) the
effluent from primary sedimentation facilities 2) to the
mixed liquor or 3) to the effluent from a biological
treatment process before secondary sedimentation
• Post-precipitation
Post-precipitation involves the addition of
chemicals to the effluent from secondary
sedimentation facilities and the subsequent removal
of chemical precipitates. In this process, the chemical
precipitates are usually removed in separate
sedimentation facilities or in effluent filters.
Theoretical Aspects of Chemical Precipitation
The theory of chemical precipitation reactions is
very complex. The reactions that have been
presented explain it only in part, and even they do
not necessarily proceed as indicated. They are
often incomplete, and numerous side reactions
with other substances in wastewater may take
place. Therefore, the following discussion is
necessarily incomplete but will serve as an
introduction to the nature of the phenomena
involved.
• Nature of Particles in Wastewater
There are two general types of colloidal solid
particle dispersion in liquids. When water is the
solvent, these are called the hydrographic, or
“water-hating” and the hydrophilic, or “water-
loving” colloids. These two types are based on
the attraction of the particle surface for water.
Hydrophobic particles have relatively little
attraction for water; hydrophilic particles have a
great attraction for water.
• Surface Charge
An important factor in the stability of colloids
is the presence of surface charge. It develops in
a number of different ways, depending on the
chemical composition of the medium
(wastewater in this case) and the colloid.
Regardless of how it is developed, this stability
must be overcome if these particles are to be
aggregated (flocculated) into larger particles
with enough mass to settle easily.
• Particle Aggregation
To bring about particle aggregation, steps must be
taken to reduce particle charge or to overcome the
effect of this charge. The effect of this charge can be
overcome by 1) the addition of potential-determining
ions, which will be taken up by or will react with the
colloid surface to lessen the surface charge, or the
addition of electrolytes, which have the effect of
reducing the thickness of the diffuse electric layer and
thereby reduce the zeta potential 2) the addition of long-
contained organic molecules (polymers), whose subunits
are ionizable and are therefore called polyelectrolytes,
that bring about the removal of particles through
adsorption and bridging; 3) the addition of chemicals
• Metal Salt Polymer Formation
In contrast with the aggregation brought about
by the addition of chemicals acting as electrolytes
and polymers, aggregation brought about by the
addition of alum or ferric sulfate is a more complex
process.
 Adsorption
• Adsorption is the process of collection soluble substances
that are in the solution on a suitable interface. The
interface can be between the liquid and a gas, a solid, or
another liquid.

• Activated-carbon treatment of wastewater is usually

thought of as a polishing process for water that has
already received normal biological treatment.
• The adsorption process takes place in three steps:
1. Macrotransport- involves the movement of the
organic material through the water to the liquid-solid
interface by advection and diffusion
2. Microtransport- involves the diffusion of the
organic material through the macropore system of the
GAC to the adsorption sites in the micropores and
submicropores of the GAC granule
3. Adsorption- occurs on the surface of the granule
and in the micropores and mesopores, but the area of
micropores and submicropores that the amount of
material adsorbed there is usually considered negligible.
 Disinfection
• Refers to the selective destruction and disease-
causing organisms

Disinfection Methods and means

1. Chemical Agents
2. Physical Agents
3. Mechanical Means
4. Radiation
Mechanisms of Disinfectants
1. Damage to the cell wall
2. Alteration of call permeability
3. Alteration of the colloidal nature of the protoplasm
4. Inhibition of enzyme activity

Factors Influencing the Actions of Disinfectants

1. Contact time
2. Concentration and type of chemical agent
3. Intensity and Nature of Physical Agent
4. Temperature
5. Number of Organisms
6. Type of Organisms
7. Nature of Suspending Liquid
 Disinfection with Chlorine
• Of all Chemical disinfectants, chlorine is perhaps the one that’s
commonly used throughout the world. The reason is that it
satisfies most of the requirements specified.
Factors that affect disinfection efficiency of Chlorine
1. the germicidal efficiency of chlorine
2. the germicidal efficiency of the various chlorine compounds
3. The importance of initial mixing
4. the breakpoint reaction
5. the contact time
6. the characteristic of wastewater
7. the characteristic of microorganisms
APPLICATIONS OF CHEMICAL UNIT
PROCESSES
• Dechloronation- the practice of removing the
total combined chlorine residual that exists
after chloronation to reduce the toxic effects of
chlorinated effluents discharged to receiuving
waters or to be used for reuse applications
• Disinfection with Chlorine Dioxide- it is another
bacteriocide, equal or greater than chlorine in
disinfecting power
• Disinfection with Bromine Chloride- practical
aspects of disinfection with bromine chloride
• Disinfection with Ozone- it ids first used to disinfect
water supplies in France in the early 1900s. A
common use for ozone at these installations is to
control taste, odor and color-producing agents.
• Disinfection with ultraviolet light- a proper dosage of
ultraviolet radiation has shown to be an effective
bacteriocide and virucide while not contributing to
the formation of toxic compounds.
• Other Chemical Applications