Removal of Organic, Nitrogen and Phosphate Pollutants from Slaughterhouse Effluent by a Process Combining Biodegradation with Adsorption

Abstract

Improving the efficiency of slaughterhouse effluent treatment processes is an ongoing quest. The objective of this work is to assess the efficiency of the treatment process, combining biodegradation and adsorption, on the elimination of organic, nitrogen and phosphate loads contained in the slaughterhouse effluent. To achieve this, a slaughterhouse effluent was sampled in the town of Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). after characterization, it was then introduced into two reactors operating in batch and with stirring, with the adsorbent produced based on sawdust of Triplochyton scleroxylon (Ayous). One of the reactors operated in the absence of oxygen (anoxia) and the other in the presence of oxygen (aeration). Then the effluent was characterized daily during the five-day treatment. The results obtained show that the pH of the effluent varies between 6.5 and 8 in the two reactors during the treatment. an oxygenating effect of the environment was observed both on the elimination of organic matter and on that of nitrogen pollution. Turbidity reduction rates vary from 77.3% in anoxia to 94% in aeration at the end of the five days of treatment. This process, which combines biodegradation with adsorption, reduces the biological treatment time of slaughterhouse effluent from more than 3 weeks to 2 days, with satisfactory efficiency in removing organic and nitrogen loads.