ABSTRACT
Biological treatment of industrial wastewater from an integrated oil refinery by activated sludge process was studied by the authors.’ 2 Specific disturbances were reported and discussed. The problems could be classified into three major categories: 1) slow rate of the bioprocess due to inhibitory effect of phenolic compounds; 2) “escape” of biomass in effluent ascribed to poor bioflocculation; and 3) discharges of concentrated phenolic wastewater disrupted the bioprocess, first by impairing bioflocculation, followed by complete disruption of the process.
