Application of Humate – Sustainable Alternative for Remediation of Wastewater and Groundwater

This paper presents results of studies on an effect of humate (HS) on chemical (Fenton) and biological treatment of wastewater with high content of organic compounds and heavy metals. All studies focused on practical applications of HS, allowing reducing the concentration of the contaminants of concern before their discharge to the natural water bodies (or to the ground). Laboratory tests showed that HS mitigated inhibitory effects of organic substances and heavy metals on the activated sludge and stimulated biological processes. HS also enhanced ammonia and phosphorus removal, increasing content of these nutrients in wasted activated sludge, what could be advantageous in the biomass land applications. In the presence of HS, the efficiency of the Fenton treatment at neutral pH was similar to that at acidic conditions without HS. The results of laboratory tests were confirmed by pilot studies on heavily contaminated groundwater with (in mg/L): COD – 1260, TOC– 367, NH3-N – 634, phenols – 170, cyanide – 3.5, thiocyanate – 150, and arsenic – 7.4. Fenton/HS (1 g/ L) pre-treatment (at neutral pH), followed by the (SBR) biological treatment allowed removing about 100 % of ammonia and about 91 % of organic load.