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Biological Treatment of Coke-Oven Effluent and its Re-use as Process Water in Coke-Oven Practice
Water Research Pergamon Press 1970. Vol. 4, p. 825. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEW Biological Treatment of Coke-Oven Effluent and its Re-use as Process Water in Coke-Oven Practice. W. BISCHO~SBEROER, Forschungsberichte des Landes Nordrhein--Westfalen, No. 2068, 1970. 84 pp 25 figures, 30 tables. Price D M 70.30, £7.33.
THIS BOOK gives an account of work undertaken from 1958 to 1962 by the Eros River Association (Emschergenossenschaft) on the biological treatment of liquors using laboratory-scale and pilotscale equipment erected at the Emil coking plant. The introductory sections explain the purpose of the work and the nature and composition of coke-oven effluents; of the processes available for their purification, biological methods appeared the most promising. The test plant included two identical, steel tanks each of 10.8 m 3 volume, equipped with diffused air and with facility for operating in series or in parallel, or with a percolating filter of 11 m 3 volume between them in a 3-stage process, as required. A general review of the fundamentals of biological purification processes is given at this stage. Following a description of the commissioning of the test plant a detailed account is given, supported by tables and figures, of investigations to determine, in turn, the optimum conditions for removal of phenol, thiocyanate, cyanide and ammonia. Removal of ammonia was not however, completely successful and laboratory experiments were therefore undertaken by Simon-Carves in the U.K. who claimed substantial nitrification in the third stage, using activated-sludge. The text is augmented by references to Abson and Todhunter's work on the inhibitive effects on treatment of ammonia, sulphide and toxic metals above threshold levels. The practical implications of the data are considered in relation to oxygen requirements, methods of aeration and costs. The need to test each liquor individually before proceeding to plant design is pointed out. Capital and operating costs are estimated with or without provision of a separate stage for ammonia removal; these estimates suggest that the additional stage would double capital expenditure and greatly increase operating costs. The final section considers factors influencing the use of purified effluent for such purposes as coke-quenching or for cooling or process water. The text is strongly influenced by ideas prevailing in the early 1960's and there is a bias towards stage-wise treatment e.g. of phenols and thiocyanate, whereas the current trend is towards singlestage systems for the treatment of these constituents, at least in the U.K. There appears to be no mention of the important part played by organic inhibitors. The tables could be better explained and have the appearance of return data sheets. However, the book contains much useful information which may be read, with advantage, by those wishing to begin a study of the practical principles of biochemical oxidation. S. H. JENKINS
825
BOOK REVIEW Biological Treatment of Coke-Oven Effluent and its Re-use as Process Water in Coke-Oven Practice. W. BISCHO~SBEROER, Forschungsberichte des Landes Nordrhein--Westfalen, No. 2068, 1970. 84 pp 25 figures, 30 tables. Price D M 70.30, £7.33.
THIS BOOK gives an account of work undertaken from 1958 to 1962 by the Eros River Association (Emschergenossenschaft) on the biological treatment of liquors using laboratory-scale and pilotscale equipment erected at the Emil coking plant. The introductory sections explain the purpose of the work and the nature and composition of coke-oven effluents; of the processes available for their purification, biological methods appeared the most promising. The test plant included two identical, steel tanks each of 10.8 m 3 volume, equipped with diffused air and with facility for operating in series or in parallel, or with a percolating filter of 11 m 3 volume between them in a 3-stage process, as required. A general review of the fundamentals of biological purification processes is given at this stage. Following a description of the commissioning of the test plant a detailed account is given, supported by tables and figures, of investigations to determine, in turn, the optimum conditions for removal of phenol, thiocyanate, cyanide and ammonia. Removal of ammonia was not however, completely successful and laboratory experiments were therefore undertaken by Simon-Carves in the U.K. who claimed substantial nitrification in the third stage, using activated-sludge. The text is augmented by references to Abson and Todhunter's work on the inhibitive effects on treatment of ammonia, sulphide and toxic metals above threshold levels. The practical implications of the data are considered in relation to oxygen requirements, methods of aeration and costs. The need to test each liquor individually before proceeding to plant design is pointed out. Capital and operating costs are estimated with or without provision of a separate stage for ammonia removal; these estimates suggest that the additional stage would double capital expenditure and greatly increase operating costs. The final section considers factors influencing the use of purified effluent for such purposes as coke-quenching or for cooling or process water. The text is strongly influenced by ideas prevailing in the early 1960's and there is a bias towards stage-wise treatment e.g. of phenols and thiocyanate, whereas the current trend is towards singlestage systems for the treatment of these constituents, at least in the U.K. There appears to be no mention of the important part played by organic inhibitors. The tables could be better explained and have the appearance of return data sheets. However, the book contains much useful information which may be read, with advantage, by those wishing to begin a study of the practical principles of biochemical oxidation. S. H. JENKINS
825