Characterization and Treatability Study of the Effluent from a Fish Processing Plant

Abstract

<p> The wastewater from a freshwater fish processing plant was characterized. The plant processed perch and smelt, and thus the wastewater characterized was taken from the perch and smelt processing lines and a combined perch and smelt wastewater. The plant also manufactured fish meal from the fish offal. During this process the offal is pressed to obtain stickliquor. Since this stickliquor is a potential waste product it too was characterized.</p> <p> It was concluded that the wastewater was either of medium strength with large flows or of high strength with low flows.</p> <p> Batch and continuous reactor studies were undertaken to ascertain the degradability of the combined wastewater. It was determined that a reactor with either a detention in excess of 5 days with no sludge recycle or a short detention time reactor (7.5 hours) with sludge recycle would be necessary to effect maximum removal of total BOD5.</p> <p> The effect of physical treatment, flotation, sedimentation and in-plant screening, were also examined in a preliminary manner.</p>