ABSTRACT
The combined influent water has an average concentration of 15,000 mg/L dissolved solids and 1300 mg/L Total Organic Carbon (TOC) with the main component being 400 mg/L of phenol. The biological systems have consistently removed between 75% and 85% of the influent TOC. The variation in removal percentages may be due to changes in the specific compound makeup of the plume as it is brought back to the central wells. The process selection for the treatment system had to consider several important and unique problems connected with the treatment of a brine groundwater. With the change in organic concentration, it was necessary to compare the costs of biological treatment and carbon adsorption over a range of organic concentrations. The sludge recycle from the clarifier was switched from the second aeration basin to the first aeration basin, and a six inch line was used to connect the some aeration basins.
