Recycling of Agro-Industrial Wastewaters using Integrated System: Coago-flocculation, Aerated Cells & Halophyte-Zeolite Wetland
M. Iggy Litaor, Ezra Orlofsky & Simon Chernoivanov
MIGAL – Galilee Research Institute
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Less freshwater= Obligatory Direct Reuse of Wastewater
Gravity
Recovery and
Climate
Experiment
(GRACE)
Groundwater Depletion in 2012 Mediterranean Drought
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Agro-Industrial Wastewaters: Dairy WW as a Case Study
Parameter Average mg L-1 (Range)
COD 4,600 (1,000->10,000)
TSS 2,000 (500-5,000)
Chloride 350 (200-1,000)
Sodium 290 (150-1,000)
Nitrogen 450 (300-900)
Phosphorous 90 (80-150)
Reverse Osmosis – Costly Alternative
High energy consumption 4 KWh m3 water
The high organic content in dairy wastewater will cause rapid biofouling
The reject water will need disposal
Nature Based Onsite Remediation ofDairy Wastewaters
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The Challenge: A Nature-Based Electricity Free Desalinization System
• New regulation in Israel requires dairy farmers to pretreat their sewage prior to release to the municipal sewage line
Parameter Typical Value in Dairy Sewage mg L-1
Regulation for release to sewage
mg L-1
For irrigation
COD 3,000-12,000 800 100
TSS 1,500-4,000 400 10
Total-N 200-600 50 25
Total-P 60-150 15 5
Na 200-1000 150 150
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MORE INFORMATION
Schematic Diagram of our Innovation
Pool for alum enrichment with P
Zohar, I. J. Ippolito, M. S. Massey, M.I. Litaor. 2017. Innovative
approach for Recycling Phosphorous from Agro-Wastewaters
Using Water Treatment Residuals (WTR). Chemoshpere, 168: 234-243.
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Step 1: TSS & COD Removal by Nanocomposites
Sepiolite + poly-DADMAC at time = 0 after 45 s after 90 s
Rytwo, G. (2012). The Use of Clay-Polymer
Nanocomposites in Wastewater Pretreatment.
Scientific World Journal 2012.
Dairy WW
Winery WW
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Step 2: COD Reduction in Bioreactor Aerated Cells
5 d retention time, 89% reduction in CODt (needs only 2 d)
Litaor, M. I. et al. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management 4, 17–26 (2015).
COD Outlet, 350
COD Inlet, 3320
0,00 1000,00 2000,00 3000,00 4000,00
COD Outlet
COD Inlet
CODt Removal
TRL = 4
Concentrations of Elements after Bioreactor aerated cells
Raw
mg L-1
After Aerated Cells
mg L-1
TSS 900 38
CODt 6781 350
P 101.2 1.22
TN 512 104
SAR 3.08-5.40 7.62-8.09 (increase of
Na, loss of K)
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COD Reduction in Bioreactor Aerated Cells – TRL =8/9
Step 3: Desalination with Halophyte Wetlands and Zeolites
Wonder Tectosilicate: Zeolite
• Fast process
• Minerals are natural or synthetic
• Large active surface and high cation exchange capacity
The microporous molecular structure of a
zeolite, ZSM-5
Zeolite 2-3 mm
Step 3: Results Na Removal & Cash Crop
Plant Species Weight Na content
(mg/g plant)
Removed Na (g)
Sesuvium
portulacastrum
47.5 kg 50 – experimental
20- control
98.66
Juncus maritimus 9.5 kg 0- exp
0-control
-
Sarcoconia
fruticosa
3 39.7-
experimental
38.2- control
10.7
Inula crithmoides 4.5 (only
one/three
wetlands)
3.6- experimental
5.3- control
1.65
Suaeda monoica 9.75 41.0 experimental
16.6- control
32.7
Step 3 - Results: SAR & PAR
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SAR
SAR Change
Sesuvium
Juncus
Sarcocornia
Inula
Sueda
regulation
0123456789
10
K m
g/L
PAR Change
Sesuvium
Juncus
Sarcocornia
Inula
Sueda
Step 3 - Results: Ions & EC
6.5 meq/L Target concentration for
irrigation
Amount of WW Treated by the CW
Interim Conclusions
1. The study of 5 halophytes showed that sessuvium is the most suitable species
for the task of removing Na from dairy effluents.
2. The regulatory target concentrations has been achieved but not enough
water for irrigation was produced.
3. Optimization analysis should be conducted to determine the optimal WW
recharge required to reach the ions target concentrations while still
producing sufficient water for irrigation.
4. Pilot-scale experiments should be conducted to verify the simulations’
results.
5. Optimization analysis will be conducted to determine the right CW size
for a given WW discharge.
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement
No 700699. The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author’s view and in no way reflect the European Commission’s
opinions. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.www.brigaid.eu
Contact Person:
M. Iggy Litaor
Phone: 972 -47700518
Thank You!
Additional Information of the wastewater treatment plant (TRL = 9)
