Abstract:
This study investigated the dissolution by biological anaerobic reduction of ferric hydroxide (Fe(OH)3) from addition of ferric chloride (FeCl3.6H2O) for the reduction of ferric chloride addition in AS processes and the estimation of suitable anaerobic tank size. Fe(OH)3 were prepared at concentrations of 70, 140, 255, 550, and 1,100 mg/l. Synthesized wastewater was prepared from milk powder as COD 1,100 mg/l. MLSS was obtained from municipal wastewater treatment plant and used at concentrations of 4,000-5,000 mg/l. Results showed that more than 80% of 70, 140 and 275 mg/l of FeCl3 was transformed to ferrous in 3 days, and 5 days for 550 and 1,100 mg/l of FeCl3. Control experiment showed that ferric reduction was biologically process. pH of the experiment was within neutral range. ORP values were from -200 to -500 mV. The equation can be described as monods equation, kmax of 337±104 day-1 and Ks of 871.4±501 mg/l. When aerated, the oxidation reaction occurred within an hour which can be described as first order equation, k1=229±128-1. Moreover, this study also investigated the effect of humic acid concentrations 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/l on the ferric ion reduction rates in anaerobic condition and ferrous ion (Fe2+) oxidation rates in aerobic condition. The result showed that addition of humic acids had no effect. Fe3+ was converted to Fe2+ in anaerobic conditions more than 80% within 3-5 days in all humic acid concentrations. An average Fe3+ reduction rates were 111.74±3.98 mg/1/d. Whereas the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ was very rapid, occurring in the first 10 minutes. The first order kinetic constant (k1) was increased from 90, 314, 358, 542 and 600 day-1