Which compound is commonly used for oxidation in wastewater treatment?

Sodium hypochlorite is widely used in wastewater treatment processes primarily for its powerful oxidation properties. This compound is a chlorine-based oxidizer that effectively disinfects and removes organic pollutants from wastewater. When added to treatment systems, sodium hypochlorite reacts with various contaminants, leading to their breakdown and rendering the effluent safer for discharge or further treatment.

Oxidation is a critical step in wastewater treatment, as it helps reduce the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS), improving water quality. The use of sodium hypochlorite is particularly beneficial not only for its disinfection capability but also for its ability to remove color and odor from the water.

In contrast, the other compounds listed do not serve primarily as oxidizing agents. Sodium bicarbonate is mainly used as a buffering agent to stabilize pH, while calcium carbonate is typically employed for hardness stabilization and pH control. Ammonium sulfate is used mainly as a nitrogen source in certain biological processes but does not possess the oxidation properties critical for contaminant removal in wastewater treatment.