Synthetic Wastewater
The synthetic wastewater was prepared to simulate the
reverse osmosis brine produced at Sulaibiya Wastewater
Treatment Plant. The required concentrations of nitrate and
phosphate in synthetic wastewater were obtained by utilizing
NaNO3 and KH2PO4, respectively. Carbon sources of
methanol, acetate or glucose was added to maintain biological
activity needed to degrade various concentrations of nitrate
and phosphate [10], [11]. In order to achieve the required
amount of salinity to resemble RO reject water, NaCl was
added. The compositions of the synthetic wastewater and
actual RO reject wastewater from Sulabiya wastewater plant
are presented in Table I.