CLEANING THE VEGETABLE OIL PRODUCTION WASTEWATER WITH ANTHRACITE

Abstract

The efficiency of anthracite treatment of the wastewaters formed at the sunflower oil production is investigated and discussed in comparison with other water cleaning technologies. It is found that a comparatively small amount of anthracite (10-15 % of the wastewater mass) ensures efficient decontamination and eliminates up to 70 % of the wastewater pollutants. This method does not require any extensive changes in the production technology and can easily be incorporated at the existing production facilities. This efficiency is based on the double-nature structure of the anthracite surface, consisting of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The former ones ensure a high wettability of the adsorbent and the release of some inorganic ions that provide coagulation of the emulsified contaminants. The latter ones ensure adsorption and extraction of the dissolved and emulsified organic pollutants of the wastewater. The used adsorbent can be filtered out after the extraction and then disposed of in an environmentally safe way through incineration as an admixture to the regular coal fuel.