CONCENTRATED HEAVY METAL LIQUID WASTE PROCESSING FROM THE LEATHER TANNERY USING AN AIR-LIFT MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTOR (AL-MBBR)

Abstract

This invention concerns the processing of liquid waste from the leather tanning industry containing heavy metals using the Air-lift Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AL-MBBR) bioreactor. This invention is one method to overcome environmental pollution by concentrated industrial wastewater containing heavy metals, especially the leather tanning industry. The processing process includes waste characterization before and after treatment, followed by the processing process in the AL-MBBR bioreactor. The parameters that are the test points are pH, temperature, ammonia levels, nitrate and nitrite levels, dissolved oxygen levels (DO), heavy metal levels (Lead, Cadmium, Chromium), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values. The optimum condition with total nitrogen degradation rate >95% includes Nitrogen Loading Rate (NLR) <31.207 g-TN / L / d average pH 9.1 – 9.7 at a temperature of 27℃. The removal capability of heavy metals Chromium, Lead, and Cadmium respectively is 95% (29 mg / L), 68% (2.8 mg / L), and 17% (0.039 mg / L).This process is an alternative way of processing leather tanning industry waste to reduce the concentration of heavy metals.