Seafood processing wastewater containing high concentrations of phosphate was
evaluated for its composition, applicability for reuse and recycle, and treatability for
phosphate removal. Wastewater from two seafood processing industries was characterized
for orthophosphate (OP), condensed phosphate (CP), total phosphate (TP), chemical oxygen
demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS). Shrimp
wastewater from industry one had an average pH of 6.06, COD of 4,750 mg/L, TSS of 270 mg/L, TOC of 1,990 mg/L, TP of 221,700 mg/L, CP of 201,200 mg/L and an average OP
of 20,500 mg/L. Scallop wastewater from industry two had an average pH of 7.61, COD
of 7,620 mg/L, TOC of 4,240 mg/L, TSS of 550 mg/L, OP of 100,000 mg P/L, CP of
1,137,000 mg P/L, and an average TP of 1,237,000 mg P/L.
Stock solutions of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) were prepared to evaluate the
applicability of reuse and recycle of scallop and shrimp STPP soak solutions. Based on
assays of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and total plate count, in addition to the slow rate
of hydrolysis, it appears that recycling and reuse of STPP soak solution waters is feasible for
the seafood processing industry.
The effectiveness of alum, lime, feme chloride and chitosan were evaluated for
phosphate removal efficiencies on the phosphate laden wastewater. Due to the required
precipitant dose and interferences to precipitation within the wastewater, chemical
precipitation of phosphate from the industrial seafood wastewaters evaluated is not
economically or practically feasible.
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