A study of the response of the pH of wastewater from a softdrink plant under various disturbances

• Main Authors: Liam, Philip V., Lim, Jon Christopher N., Sinfuego, Jeffrey T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Hydrogen-ion concentration; Soft drink industry > Waste disposal; Sewage > Purification > Biological treatment; Computer simulation; Water > Pollution > Computer programs; x1 pH
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/7421
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study involved the response of the pH of wastewater from a softdrink plant under various disturbances. The study was done to be able verify the order of the system, which was to be predicted by simulation of the responses in first order and then simultaneously compared with experimental data. Experiments on the responses were made using impulse inputs of different concentrations ranging from 0.01 M, 0.02 M, 0.03 M, 0.04 M and 0.05 M HCI at 1 liter volumes. For the responses involving step inputs, experiments were also made using the previously stated concentrations. The flowrate of the inputs was set at 50 cc/min, and the wastewater was fed at a constant rate of 130 cc/min. The experiments were done using the t-5550 pH control unit. The simulation of the system was done using a mathematical model based on a material balance around the system and the reaction involved in the neutralization of the softdrink wastewater. A linear mathematical model, which assumed the reaction to be negligible, was constructed to describe the response of the system. The Laplace transform was used to solve the model. To test the validity of using Laplace transform, another model that takes into account reaction kinetics was evaluated using the Runge-Kutta method of solving for non-linear differential equations. Based on the comparison of the experiment responses with that of the simulated responses from the mathematical model, the system was most probably first-order. This was observed as the simulation for the first-order system closely approximated the experimental response.