A manufacturer of aluminum discs used for the production of CD-ROMs and other computer peripherals was discharging a high biological oxygen demand (BOD) effluent at a rate of 35,000 gallons/day. This waste was consuming approximately 20% of the local POTWs waste water treatment capacity. Faced with stiff penalties for grossly exceeding the BOD regulatory limits and facing possible shutdown, the company tried unsuccessfully to chemically treat the effluents. Biological treatment was too expensive and uncertain because of the presence of biocides in the effluent. The company turned to Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) technical staff for possible answers. The objectives were to reduce the current BOD (~4100 mg/L) to values closer to the regulatory limits and reduce the volume of wastewater discharged (~35,500 gallons per day, gpd) to sewer. ISTC personnel quickly identified the coolants and alkaline cleaners used in the grinding process as the main source of the BOD problem. Working in conjunction with the plant personnel, ISTC identified a lower BOD coolant that was also cheaper. Plant-wide substitution resulted in a BOD decrease of 70%.
Publisher
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (formerly Illinois Waste Management and Research Center)
Series/Report Name or Number
TN Series (Illinois Sustainable Technology Center) ; 13-063
The Accelerated Diffusion of Pollution Prevention Technologies Program (ADOP2T) was an initiative that identified best practices and executed brief demonstrations and extended pilot trials of pollution prevention practices and technologies in actual industrial facilities.
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