Abstract

A new correlation has been developed in this paper for predicting hydrocarbon degradation in a continuous discharge of wastewater in a pond system for dry season. The correlation was developed using force balance model on a fluid element in a pond (hydrodynamic model). Mathematical technique known as separation of variables was applied to the general solution obtained from the hydrodynamic model. The degradation rate of individual hydrocarbon was estimated and attributed to change in microbial growth, physico-chemical properties of wastewater due to momentum transfer experience on the system. An experimental study was as well conducted in examining the reliability of this method. The predictions of this correlation are in acceptable agreement with the theoretical data, demonstrating the reliability of this predictive technique for estimating the individual hydrocarbon degradation in a continuous discharge of wastewater in a pond system under the influence of momentum transfer. The predictive model for estimating the effect of momentum transfer on the hydrocarbon degradation in a pond system is given as:

Accurate experimental data on additional systems are needed to develop a reliable momentum transfer theory particularly for process representation at wind velocity higher than discharged velocity.

Key words: Hydrocarbon degradation, momentum transfer, correlation, microbial growth, model, dry.