Treatment for dairy waste water using a photoreactor (UV and hydrogen peroxide) as an alternative treatment technique

The contamination of vital life supplies by industrial waste, especially dairy effluent, is a growing global concern. This study investigates the impact of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) on treating dairy wastewater utilizing UV/H2O2 AOP. Utilized ultraviolet lamps in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide oxidant reagent (0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 ml/L) in batch experiments under varying parameters to optimize the treatment of dairy wastewater before and following its introduction to the advanced oxidation process (AOP) system, by measuring Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The impacts of varying circulation durations in a photocatalytic system (60-360 minutes), flow rates (200, 400, and 600 ml/min), pH levels (10, 7.5, and 5), H2O2 concentrations (0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 ml/L), and UV light intensities (1 lamp, 2 lamps).  Enhanced COD and BOD removal efficiencies can be achieved by employing an advanced oxidation process (AOP) under optimal conditions, which include four reactors connected in series, each equipped with two lamps, a flow rate of 200 ml/min, a pH of 5, a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 1.2 ml/L, and a circulation duration of 360 minutes. Under these conditions, the COD removal was around 86.40%, while the BOD reached 86.23%. The COD and BOD removal efficacy by the photocatalyst system technique was nearly identical. In summary, the photocatalytic system demonstrated superior degradation and mineralization; hence, its application in dairy wastewater treatment is compelling.