This study examined a feasibility of coagulation as post-treatment to remove sulfide and phosphorus for the effluent of anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) treating domestic wastewater. Removal efficiencies of sulfide, phosphorus and COD by coagulation were not affected by pH in the range of 5.9 to 7.2. Alkalinity requirement could be estimated by the amount of Fe3+ to form Fe(OH)3(S) and to remove sulfide and phosphorus. At coagulant aid dosage of 2 mg/L, anionic polymer showed best results regarding size and settleability of flocs. Sulfide removal for the AFBR effluent at the Fe3+/S2- ratio of 0.64, close to the theoretical value of 0.67 found with a synthetic wastewater, was only 75.2%. One of the reasons for this low sulfide removal is that the AFBR effluent contains, phosphorus, hydroxide and bicarbonate which can react with Fe3+ competitively. Concentrations of sulfide and phosphorous reduced to below 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively, at the Fe3+/S2- ratio of 2.0. Average effluent COD of 80 mg/L, mostly soluble COD, was obtained at the dosage 50 mg Fe3+/L (Fe3+/S2- ratio of 2.0) with corresponding COD removal of 55%. For better removal of COD, soluble COD removal at the AFBR should be enhanced. Coagulation with Fe3+ removed sulfide, phosphorus and COD simultaneously in the AFBR effluent, and thus could be an alternative process for the conventional wastewater treatment processes where relatively high quality effluent is not required.

• 양승용 | Seungyong Yang
• 배재호 | Jaeho Bae Corresponding author