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Anaerobic bioflocculation of wool scouring effluent: The influence of non-ionic surfactant on efficiency
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Anaerobic bioflocculation of wool scouring effluent: The influence of non-ionic surfactant on efficiency

W. Charles, G. Ho and R. Cord-Ruwisch
Water Science and Technology, Vol.34(11), pp.1-8
1996
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Abstract

Wool scouring effluent (WSE) contains high concentrations of wool grease emulsified by non-ionic surfactants (nonylphenol polyethoxylates - NPEO). The short-term treatment (1-7 days) of this effluent with anaerobic bacteria resulted in partial grease nocculation. However the efficiency of this process varied largely (30% to 80%) with the source of wool Scouring effluent used. The concentration of free surfactant, rather than total surfactant, was found to be the likely reason for the variation in efficiency. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of anaerobic biological flocculation a detailed surfactant analysis was performed. This revealed that anaerobic microbes (taken from sludge of a municipal wastewater treatment plant) had anability to partially degrade NPEO by shortening the hydrophilic ethoxylate chain causing coagulation and subsequent flocculation of wool grease from the liquor.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#6 Clean Water and Sanitation
#7 Affordable and Clean Energy
#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

Source: InCites

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InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.83 Bioengineering
3.83.416 Anaerobic Digestion
Web Of Science research areas
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Water Resources
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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