3.

2 TREATMENT OF WASTE PRODUCT

3.2.1 Wastewaters

In the production of ethylene oxide, water is one of the by-products generated which is
released as wastewater stream. Wastewaters generated contain a large number of pollutants at
high concentrations and have adverse environmental impacts. The wastewaters contain with
mono ethylene glycol and aldehydes that have high chemical oxygen demand (COD) that
produced by ethylene oxide or ethylene glycol plants.

Currently, wastewater in petrochemical industry treated with conventional activated

sludge process (CASP), but due to its high COD concentrations because of common
problems associated with conventional methods, alternative method have been used for
treating ethylene oxide wastewater to satisfy the effluents discharge standards. Sequencing
batch reactor (SBR) has been demonstrated to be an alternative to the conventional
continuous flow activated sludge process (Chan and Lim, 2007; Mahmoudkhani et al., 2012)

Sequencing batch reactor known as a flexible and effective system for the biological
treatment of wastewater even though there are high concentrations of toxic compounds
produced. It is a periodically operated which has five discrete periods in each operating cycle
including fill, react, settle, draw, and idle. The reactions start and occur during fill and
reactions are complete during react. After that, the mixed liquor suspended solid are allowed
to separate by sedimentation during settle in a defined time period. During draw process, the
treated effluent is withdrawn. Termed idle is the time period between the end of the draw
process and the beginning of the new fill.

The wastewaters generated from production of ethylene oxide constitute various

organic substances, organic solvents which results in low BOD but gives high COD, high salt
content, toxic and inhibitory substances in wastewater that inhibit the biological process that
need to be treated before discharge into water surface (Mohan et al., 2005)

3.3 GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

Environmental Quality Act (EQA) is an enabling piece of legislation to prevent, abate and
control pollution, and enhance the environment. As declared in EQA, pollution includes the
direct or indirect alteration of any quality of the environment. Pollution is controlled
through the mechanism of licences issued by the Department of Environment. It is mandatory
for wastewater in urban areas and townships to be treated before discharged it into surface
waters. The laws and regulations listed below have been introduced and are strictly enforced
by the Environmental Quality Act 1974:

Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009

Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009

According to Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009, which

contains substance with concentration greater than those specified parameter limits, which is
categorised into 2 different standards, Standard A and Standard B. Standard A refers to the
parameter limits of effluent to be discharged into any inland water within the catchment areas
whereas standard B refers to the parameter limits of effluent to be discharged into any other
inland water outside the catchment area.

Table 3.2 Parameter Limits for Standard A and Standard B Effluent

Parameter Unit Standard

A B
Temperature oC 40 40
pH Value 6.0-9.0 5.5-9.0
BOD5 at 20oC mg/L 20 50
COD mg/L 120 200
Suspended Solids mg/L 50 100
Oil and Grease mg/L 1.0 10
Colour ADMI* 100 200

Source: DOE 2009