52
2 Conventional Approaches for Waste Management …
– Solids removal: Solids are removed through sedimentation for large solid particles
and cake filtration or ultrafiltration for very fine solids. The recovered solids are
collected as the slurry or sludge.
– Oil and grease removal: Skimmers are normally used as a dependable and costeffective method to separate oil and grease from the open water surfaces. Skimmers must be equipped with heaters for grease removal as the grease contains
higher viscosity hydrocarbons and heaters help to keep the grease fluid for
discharge.
– Biodegradable organics removal: biodegradable organics are removed through
activated sludge or trickling filter processes. The activated sludge process consists
of an aeration tank and uses air and microorganisms to biologically oxidize the
organic pollutants and produce a waste sludge containing the oxidized material
and biomass. The trickling filter process consists of a bed of rocks, gravel and
slag with a layer of microbial slime covering the bed media, which helps the
adsorption of the organic compounds in the wastewater as it flows downward on
the bed. Airflow is forced through the bed and provides the oxygen required for
the biochemical oxidation of the organic materials.
– Synthetic organics treatment: synthetic organics such as solvents, paints,
pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the industrial wastewater are treated using
advanced oxidation processes, distillation, adsorption, incineration, chemical
immobilization or landfill disposal.
– Acids and alkalis treatment: Acids and alkalis are treated through neutralization.
– Toxic materials treatment: Metals such as zinc, silver, cadmium and thallium
are precipitated by changing the pH or by treatment with other chemicals. They
might need concentration followed by landfilling. Dissolved toxic organics can
be incinerated or treated by advanced oxidation processes.
References
1. Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0067-01 Water use parameters in mineral extraction and
thermal-electric power generation industries, by region (x 1,000,000)
2. Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0058-01 Water discharge in manufacturing industries, by point
of discharge and by industry (x 1,000,000)
3. https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/oil-sands/18089
4. Statistics Canada (2012) Human activity and the environment—waste management in Canada
5. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhousegas-emissions/sources-sinks-executive-summary-2020.html
6. Ministry of the Environment (2010) Non-hazardous waste disposal and diversion. In: 2010
annual report of the office of the Auditor General of Ontario, pp 213–239
7. Dewis G, Van Wesenbeeck P (2016) Trash talking-dealing with Canadian household e-waste.
Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division
8. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-pro
tection-act-registry/general-information/fact-sheets/disposal-at-sea.html
9. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/
municipal-solid/environment.html
2 Conventional Approaches for Waste Management …
– Solids removal: Solids are removed through sedimentation for large solid particles
and cake filtration or ultrafiltration for very fine solids. The recovered solids are
collected as the slurry or sludge.
– Oil and grease removal: Skimmers are normally used as a dependable and costeffective method to separate oil and grease from the open water surfaces. Skimmers must be equipped with heaters for grease removal as the grease contains
higher viscosity hydrocarbons and heaters help to keep the grease fluid for
discharge.
– Biodegradable organics removal: biodegradable organics are removed through
activated sludge or trickling filter processes. The activated sludge process consists
of an aeration tank and uses air and microorganisms to biologically oxidize the
organic pollutants and produce a waste sludge containing the oxidized material
and biomass. The trickling filter process consists of a bed of rocks, gravel and
slag with a layer of microbial slime covering the bed media, which helps the
adsorption of the organic compounds in the wastewater as it flows downward on
the bed. Airflow is forced through the bed and provides the oxygen required for
the biochemical oxidation of the organic materials.
– Synthetic organics treatment: synthetic organics such as solvents, paints,
pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the industrial wastewater are treated using
advanced oxidation processes, distillation, adsorption, incineration, chemical
immobilization or landfill disposal.
– Acids and alkalis treatment: Acids and alkalis are treated through neutralization.
– Toxic materials treatment: Metals such as zinc, silver, cadmium and thallium
are precipitated by changing the pH or by treatment with other chemicals. They
might need concentration followed by landfilling. Dissolved toxic organics can
be incinerated or treated by advanced oxidation processes.
References
1. Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0067-01 Water use parameters in mineral extraction and
thermal-electric power generation industries, by region (x 1,000,000)
2. Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0058-01 Water discharge in manufacturing industries, by point
of discharge and by industry (x 1,000,000)
3. https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/oil-sands/18089
4. Statistics Canada (2012) Human activity and the environment—waste management in Canada
5. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhousegas-emissions/sources-sinks-executive-summary-2020.html
6. Ministry of the Environment (2010) Non-hazardous waste disposal and diversion. In: 2010
annual report of the office of the Auditor General of Ontario, pp 213–239
7. Dewis G, Van Wesenbeeck P (2016) Trash talking-dealing with Canadian household e-waste.
Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division
8. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-pro
tection-act-registry/general-information/fact-sheets/disposal-at-sea.html
9. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/
municipal-solid/environment.html