Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago
Abstract Background Effluents from Food Services Establishments (FSEs) contain primarily Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) which severely impact on sewers and the environment when released in high concentrations. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is estimated that approximately 231,304 kg/day of unaccounted for...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Biological Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-023-00344-w |
| _version_ | 1797363231140872192 |
|---|---|
| author | Cudjoe Shamika Banerjee Goutam Cooper Vincent |
| author_facet | Cudjoe Shamika Banerjee Goutam Cooper Vincent |
| author_sort | Cudjoe Shamika |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Effluents from Food Services Establishments (FSEs) contain primarily Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) which severely impact on sewers and the environment when released in high concentrations. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is estimated that approximately 231,304 kg/day of unaccounted for FOG bearing wastewaters from FSEs, are released into the environment with no viable treatment in the country. This research explored the optimization of physico-chemical processes for the treatment of FOGs for subsequent release into sewers. Results Bench-scale studies analysed the characteristics of FSE’s effluents from three popular sources, conducted the treatment of these effluents using Jar Tests, and subsequently confirm results via a pilot plant study. Characterization showed the mean concentration of the parameters examined to be; FOG (511 mg/l ± 116 mg/l), Suspended Solids (446 mg/l ± 146 mg/l), Chemical Oxygen Demand (2229 mg/l ± 963 mg/l) and pH (6 ± 0.3). Jar Tests were conducted using Poly-aluminium Chloride (PACl) as coagulant, anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes as flocculant aids with suitable pH adjustments of samples to determine the isoelectric point for the coagulant. Effluent results showed FOG removal levels of 99.9% and final effluent concentration of 0.17 mg/l. This was attained using PACl concentration of 250 mg/l, a 0.1% low cationic polyelectrolyte (CP 1154) at 4 mg/l with the pH of sample adjusted to 8. The pilot plant achieved a 97.4% removal of FOG (residual of 16.8 mg/l) using the same coagulant dosing, and pH value, but increasing the strength of the flocculant aid to 0.1% medium cationic (CP1156) at 5 mg/l. Conclusion Experimentation showed high concentrations of emulsified FOG can be efficiently removed to levels below the permissible requirements (20 mg/l) for entry into sewer systems in Trinidad and Tobago using coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation techniques. Pilot scale study also revealed that a higher strength and/or dose of the cationic polyelectrolyte and increased times in primary and final tanks were required to attain the desired results as in the bench level study, where equipment limitations in the flocculation tank were faced. This is in alignment with theory where factors critical for agglomeration is equipment type and density charge. It is, concluded that the optimum combination of chemicals and the respective dosages attained at the bench level study should prove effective should the right equipment be made available. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:17:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d6b595b596d4080a38a9646d536c6ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1754-1611 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:17:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biological Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d6b595b596d4080a38a9646d536c6ee2024-01-07T12:29:38ZengBMCJournal of Biological Engineering1754-16112024-01-0118111110.1186/s13036-023-00344-wTreatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & TobagoCudjoe Shamika0Banerjee Goutam1Cooper Vincent2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of The West IndiesDepartment of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of The West IndiesAbstract Background Effluents from Food Services Establishments (FSEs) contain primarily Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) which severely impact on sewers and the environment when released in high concentrations. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is estimated that approximately 231,304 kg/day of unaccounted for FOG bearing wastewaters from FSEs, are released into the environment with no viable treatment in the country. This research explored the optimization of physico-chemical processes for the treatment of FOGs for subsequent release into sewers. Results Bench-scale studies analysed the characteristics of FSE’s effluents from three popular sources, conducted the treatment of these effluents using Jar Tests, and subsequently confirm results via a pilot plant study. Characterization showed the mean concentration of the parameters examined to be; FOG (511 mg/l ± 116 mg/l), Suspended Solids (446 mg/l ± 146 mg/l), Chemical Oxygen Demand (2229 mg/l ± 963 mg/l) and pH (6 ± 0.3). Jar Tests were conducted using Poly-aluminium Chloride (PACl) as coagulant, anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes as flocculant aids with suitable pH adjustments of samples to determine the isoelectric point for the coagulant. Effluent results showed FOG removal levels of 99.9% and final effluent concentration of 0.17 mg/l. This was attained using PACl concentration of 250 mg/l, a 0.1% low cationic polyelectrolyte (CP 1154) at 4 mg/l with the pH of sample adjusted to 8. The pilot plant achieved a 97.4% removal of FOG (residual of 16.8 mg/l) using the same coagulant dosing, and pH value, but increasing the strength of the flocculant aid to 0.1% medium cationic (CP1156) at 5 mg/l. Conclusion Experimentation showed high concentrations of emulsified FOG can be efficiently removed to levels below the permissible requirements (20 mg/l) for entry into sewer systems in Trinidad and Tobago using coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation techniques. Pilot scale study also revealed that a higher strength and/or dose of the cationic polyelectrolyte and increased times in primary and final tanks were required to attain the desired results as in the bench level study, where equipment limitations in the flocculation tank were faced. This is in alignment with theory where factors critical for agglomeration is equipment type and density charge. It is, concluded that the optimum combination of chemicals and the respective dosages attained at the bench level study should prove effective should the right equipment be made available.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-023-00344-wCharacterizationFatsOils and Grease (FOG)Food Services Establishments (FSEs)Coagulation-flocculationPoly-aluminium Chloride (PAC) |
| spellingShingle | Cudjoe Shamika Banerjee Goutam Cooper Vincent Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago Journal of Biological Engineering Characterization Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) Food Services Establishments (FSEs) Coagulation-flocculation Poly-aluminium Chloride (PAC) |
| title | Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago |
| title_full | Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago |
| title_fullStr | Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago |
| title_short | Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago |
| title_sort | treatment of effluents from food services establishment fses by physico chemical processes a case study for trinidad tobago |
| topic | Characterization Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) Food Services Establishments (FSEs) Coagulation-flocculation Poly-aluminium Chloride (PAC) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-023-00344-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cudjoeshamika treatmentofeffluentsfromfoodservicesestablishmentfsesbyphysicochemicalprocessesacasestudyfortrinidadtobago AT banerjeegoutam treatmentofeffluentsfromfoodservicesestablishmentfsesbyphysicochemicalprocessesacasestudyfortrinidadtobago AT coopervincent treatmentofeffluentsfromfoodservicesestablishmentfsesbyphysicochemicalprocessesacasestudyfortrinidadtobago |