Aerated stabilization basins

About 75% of U.S. kraft mills use aerated stabilization basins.36 These basins are equipped with continuous mechanical aerators or diffusers to introduce air into the wastewater. By aerating the... 

Some kraft mills use both aerated and nonaerated basins. The stabilization basin, which may precede or follow the aerated stabilization basin, serves as a polishing or holding pond to remove additional organic materials, including biological solids, or to reduce final effluent discharges to receiving waters. 

Some kraft mills use basins without mechanical aerators. Known as stabilization basins, this is the simplest form of aerobic treatment. This process uses shallow basins that cover very large areas and relies on natural diffusion of air into the wastewater and algae to create aerobic conditions. At depths greater than 1.2 m (4 ft), anaerobic microorganisms will become active in lower depths thus, stabilization basins are shallow. Typically, the basin is earthen although some are lined with compacted clay. Wastewater retention time may last up to 30 d to achieve up to 90% BOD5 removal. 

Waste stabilization ponds are shallow basins into which wastes are fed for biological decomposition. The chemical reactions involved are the same as those that occur in the other biological processes. Aeration is provided by the wind, and anaerobic digestion may also occur near the bottom of deeper ponds. The ponds are very commonly used for sewage treatment and dilute industrial wastes. Waste stabilization ponds are normally used as the final treatment step for effluents because they are not effieient enough to be used on their own. 

Figure 8.35 shows the redox state and acidity of the main types of seawaters. The redox state of normal oceanic waters is almost neutral, but they are slightly alkaline in terms of pH. The redox state increases in aerated surface waters. Seawaters of euxinic basins and those rich in nutrients (eutrophic) often exhibit Eh-pH values below the sulfide-sulfate transition and below carbonate stability limits (zone of organic carbon and methane cf figure 8.21). We have already seen (section 8.10.1) that the pH of normal oceanic waters is buffered by carbonate equilibria. At the normal pH of seawater (pH = 8.2), carbonate alkalinity is 2.47 mEq per kg of solution. 

When thermal volcanic waters react with aerated surface waters, the appearance of ferric iron colloids is quite permissible. However, there are no organic compounds of fulvic acid t)q)e in volcanic waters and only colloidal silica could act as a stabilizer. At the same time there often is sulfur in thermal solutions, the stable form of which in the presence of free oxygen is the S04 ion—the main coagulant of colloidal iron. For this reason the possibilities of colloidal transport of iron from volcanic sources to sedimentary basins are limited. A high COj content in the hydrosphere and atmosphere does not exert a stabilizing effect on Fe(OH)3 colloids. 

Contact stabilization package paint including pumps, aeration basin, air system and secondary clarifier. PM cost 1360000 at design feed rate = 11.5 L/s with n = 0.46 for the range 4.4-90. (L+M = 1.78). 

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