it is possible to have considerable higher TOC removal than COD removal in wastewater treatment. This could occur if a treatment plant is specifically designed to target organic compounds and achieve high COD removal, effectively removing a substantial portion of the TOC as a byproduct
Yes, it is possible to have considerably higher Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal than Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal in wastewater treatment, especially in specific scenarios like the treatment of high-salinity oilfield wastewater.
TOC and COD are two different measurements used to assess the organic content in wastewater. TOC measures all forms of organic carbon, while COD measures the amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize the organic and inorganic substances in water. The difference in TOC and COD removal can be attributed to the nature and composition of the wastewater.
In the case of high-salinity oilfield wastewater, there can be organic compounds that are not easily biodegradable or that do not contribute significantly to the COD but are still measured as TOC. The high salinity can affect the biodegradation of certain organic compounds, making them resistant to traditional biological treatment methods. Additionally, there may be inorganic substances contributing to the COD but not to the TOC, further increasing the disparity between the two measurements.
In such situations, advanced treatment processes or specialized methods may be required to effectively remove TOC. For example, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) or membrane filtration techniques may be more effective at removing specific refractory organic compounds that contribute to TOC but not COD. It's essential to tailor the treatment process to the specific characteristics of the wastewater to achieve the desired removal efficiencies for both TOC and COD.
Ultimately, the choice of treatment method and the degree of TOC and COD removal will depend on the specific composition and challenges presented by the high-salinity oilfield wastewater in question.