Waste Water Treatment

Ozone in Waste Water Treatment

Waste water or effluents from various industries contain varying degrees of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and BOD (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) which represent organic contamination as well as bacterial contamination. Besides these, colour and odour also form a part of the waste water. This water is toxic and is harmful to the environment and to human beings who may come in contact with it.

This water has to be treated in order to dispose it environmentally safely. Worldwide many conventional treatment methods are used today employing different technologies for handling different problems in various industries. Ozone has found an effective place in the treatment process of this waste water. Because of its powerful oxidative and disinfective properties, ozone can reduce the COD and the BOD. Besides, it helps in reduction of colour and also odour in some applications.

In combination with the existing conventional treatment systems, ozone complements the process by improving the quality of final treated water for discharge. In today’s conditions of scarcity of water against increasing demand; recycling of waste water is looked upon as saving on the cost of water. Ozone plays an important role in waste water treatment for recycling. Besides helping in improving the final discharge water quality, tertiary treatment with ozone helps in final ‘polishing’ of the treated water to disinfect and help further reduction of colour, odour and to some extent COD and BOD as well.