A method and apparatus is described for separating contaminants from waste material
including waste water derived from a chemical processing or manufacturing plant,
such as the waste water from a coconut processing plant. The separation method
and apparatus involves the use of a mixer to aerate a partially treated waste water
material prior to mixing the aerated material with a new supply of waste water
to aerate the waste water feed supply for admission to a separation vessel in which
the contaminants of the waste water are collected as sludge at the top of the aerated
zone for disposal. The treated waste water now substantially free of contaminants
is collected in a clean zone for discharge or recirculation. Prior to discharge
the partially treated waste water in the clean zone can be recycled through a recirculation
loop containing the mixer. The recirculation loop can be operated independently
of the rate of supply of new waste water. The advantage of the method and apparatus
of this invention is that the treated waste water in the separation vessel can
be aerated continuously irrespective of the rate of control of the waste water
or even when there is no incoming waste water which prevents the separation tank
from becoming fouled with deposited contaminants.
