CONTINUOUS AND EARLY DETECTION OF TOXICITY IN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER USING AN ON-LINE RESPIRATION METER

An on-line toxic detection system is introduced for early and continuous observation of toxicity in an industrial wastewater treatment plant. The system consists of a contact chamber and an on-line respiration meter. If a raw wastewater sample is taken at the head of the wastewater treatment plant, one can detect toxicity of the wastewater before it reaches the aeration tank. For proper usage of this system a maximum respiration rate should be measured in the contact chamber. To apply this system on the petrochemical wastewater the Q_e/Q_s, ratio should be maintained higher than 0.6 among other operating conditions required When this system was tested under high and low pH, Co²⁺ inhibition, and recovered catalyst wastes addition, the system responded very sensitively.