Abstract

The goal of this study was to characterize and then optimize the treatment process of effluent generated from couscous and pasta industry. The crude effluent is characterized by a high level of organic concentration (from 2269 to 4383 mg/l). The optimization of coagulation-flocculation process was then performed to minimize chemical oxygen demand (COD). The experiments were carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was used to evaluate the effects and the interactions of three factors; coagulant dosage, flocculant dosage and pH on the wastewater treatment efficiency. Quadratic models was developed for the response variables and it successfully describes the experimental data (R²= 0.728). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that only the coefficients corresponding to the flocculant dosage were significant (p < 0.0001). In order to take into account the variability of the initial organic concentration of the effluent, the CCD was repeated thrice by using a wastewater having initially different organic charges (530, 1775 and 2722 mg/l). Whatever was the initial organic charge of the wastewater, the optimal coagulant dosage was found constant (about 50 mg/l) and the optimal pH value was about 11.0. On the contrary, the optimal flocculant dosage varied linearly (from 24 to 50 mg/l) with the initial COD (from 529 to 2722 mg/l). These optimal conditions allow a COD removal varying from 78 to 93%. Irrigation and germination tests were carried out with treated and untreated wastewater and they showed that these effluents could be adequately recycled in culture irrigation.

Key words: Couscous and pasta industry effluent, COD removal, central composite design, response surface methodology (RSM), irrigation tests.

Abbreviation

ANOVA, Analysis of variance; BOD₅, biological oxygen demand;COD_S, chemical oxygen demand soluble; COD_t, chemical oxygen demand total;NH₄⁺-N, ammoniacal nitrogen; Norg-N, organic nitrogen; P_t, total phosphorus; T, temperature; TSS, total suspended solid; TS, total solid; TKN-N, total Kjeldhal nitrogen; VS, volatile solid.