Treatment of combined sewer overflows by ballasted flocculation: Removal study of a large broad spectrum of pollutants

International audienceChemical Engineering Journal Volume 211, 15 November 2012, Pages 293-301 Treatment of combined sewer overflows by ballasted flocculation: Removal study of a large broad spectrum of pollutants ( Articles not published yet, but available online Article in press About articles in press (opens in a new window) ) Gasperi, J.a , Laborie, B.b, Rocher, V.b a Université Paris-Est, LEESU, UMR MA 102, AgroParisTech, 61 Avenue du Gal de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France b SIAAP, Direction du Développement et de la Prospective, 82 Avenue Kléber, 92700 Colombes, France Abstract This study aims at examining the performance of the ballasted flocculation unit (BFU) on treating combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and the evaluation depends on the values obtained of routine wastewater parameters and on the contents of a large broad spectrum of pollutants. Accordingly, the full-scale BFU at the largest wastewater treatment plant in Europe (Seine Aval plant near Paris, France) is investigated during three sampling campaigns. Of the 97 molecules targeted, 57 substances including 18 priority substances and 11 priority hazardous substances were detected in the BFU influents confirming that wet weather flow (WWF) treatment has definitively proven to be necessary. The WWF treatment by ballasted flocculation appears as a promising but not a fully adapted technology for use in densely urbanized areas to considerably mitigate the CSO impacts. On operating at the optimal chemical and sand doses, this process appears to be a suitable technology to remove particles, carbonaceous and phosphorous pollutants, particulate metals and most of hydrophobic organic compounds whilst nitrogenous pollutants and most of hydrophilic compounds are from poorly (<20%) to moderately (