APEX MONTHLY – JANUARY 2013 w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m
Get Rid of H2S, Ammonia & More!
Whether on a municipal or industrial level, odor issues can pose health and nuisance issues to maintenance personnel, as well as the surrounding community and environment. The biodegradable
RYDALL OE Odor Eliminator is an environmentally beneficial biocatalyst containing a complex mixture of nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements specifically designed to naturally eliminate odors and corrosion problems.
Unlike similar odor control products, RYDALL OE does not contain masking agents, essential oils, bacteria or active enzymes. It eradicates odors by disallowing the formation of foul substances such as H2S, ammonia, mercaptans and skatole by stimulating existing bacteria already prevalent in waste. RYDALL OE is non-toxic to humans, animals and plants, as well as non-corrosive to metals, concrete and plastics.
RYDALL OE can be used anywhere with odor issues!
• Wastewater treatment and pre-treatment facilities
• Composting facilities and landfills
• Recycling facilities
• Solid waste facilities
• Food processing facilities
• Manufacturing facilities
• Food service/restaurants
IN ACTION: RYDALL OE
Say Cheese!
A specialty cheese manufacturer in Wisconsin had an ongoing odor problem since installing a wastewater treatment system, which includes a 4,000-gallon wastewater sludge tank. The primary odor problem was coming from the sludge tank, which was pumped out and taken off-site about once a week.
The odor emanating from the wastewater process was a source of complaint from neighboring facilities and businesses, as well as from the town’s police headquarters five miles away!
The solution to the odor included 12 ounces of RYDALL OE per day, dispensed 1 ounce per hour over a 12 hour work day. The solution was injected at 100 ppm via a small metering pump into the waste stream prior to reaching the sludge tank.
In just two days, the strong, pungent odor from the wastewater process was almost completely eliminated! The expedited result was due to the injection of RYDALL OE to the wastewater stream prior to it reaching the tank, which allowed ample mixing and retention time.
The facility’s plant manager stated, “We’ve had no phone calls from the police or fire department, and none of our neighbors have complained since using RYDALL OE. We are very pleased with the result and will continue to use the product to control odor.”
With such a positive result from the sludge portion of the wastewater process, the plant is now evaluating the use of RYDALL OE to help control high extremely high BOD’s in the main waste stream.
Reduce FOG, BOD, COD & More!
With many industrial companies facing more stringent wastewater regulations, heavier fines and potential litigation from local and federal agencies, RYDALL WO
Water Optimizer is an environmentally beneficial solution for companies facing industrial wastewater treatment/pre-treatment and odor problems.
RYDALL WO is a biocatalyst that contains a complex mixture of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements that reduce hydrogen sulfide (H2S), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), fats, oil, and grease (FOG), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS). With no active bacteria or enzymes, this unique formula stimulates existing bacteria already prevalent in wastewater, enhancing the natural biological process.
RYDALL WO is non-toxic to humans, animals, fish and plants. There are also no fumes or irritating vapors, making it safe to handle even at high concentration. It is also non-corrosive to metals, concrete and plastics making it ideal for any industrial wastewater treatment/pre-treatment application (e.g. lagoons, sewers, holding tanks) in a wide array of industries (e.g. manufacturing, food processing, pulp and paper).
The Truth About Fats, Oil & Grease…otherwise known as FOG
Fats, oil and grease, also known as FOG, is a byproduct of cooking and meat cutting. It can be found in meat fats, oils, shortening, butter, margarine, sauces and dairy products. This viscous substance is the leading culprit in sewer blockages, leading to spills and overflows that can cause damage to homes and businesses, as well as pollute waterways and groundwater; and harm fish and wildlife habitats.
FOG in liquid form seems harmless, but as it cools, it congeals and hardens, making it a toxic substance for sewage systems. It sticks to the inner lining of drainage pipes and restricts the wastewater flow, eventually causing a blockage. This buildup can also become the source of extremely foul and obnoxious odors.
You can take steps to help prevent sewer blockages and foul odors:
• Do not pour liquid fats, oils or grease into sinks. Pour grease and used cooking oil into a can, store it in the freezer and put it in the trash when it’s full.
• Make sure you have a proper type and size of grease trap or interceptor, and that it is properly installed. Treat traps, interceptors and separators on a regular basis to prevent FOG from passing through into the sewer system.
• Do thorough research into any type of chemical solution or prevention system to ensure it’s within code, and harmless to the equipment and environment. Some products contain active elements (e.g enzymes, bacteria) that may be prohibited by private or public waste treatment facilities.
• Clean vent hoods/filters regularly (learn about Rydall MP Multi Purpose Degreaser).
Boilers are the “Heart” of Many Facilities,
Make Sure it Keeps Ticking
Boilers represent the heart of many institutions including: airports, condominiums, factories, food companies, general industry, hospitals, hotels, housing authorities, medical centers, office buildings, power utilities, schools, shopping malls, and any other locations where hot water or steam is an essential part of the operation.
Scale is the accumulation of minerals such as calcium and magnesium on the water side of boiler heating surfaces. When boiler water turns to steam, residual minerals are left in the boiler. These minerals then settle out of the boiler water and form scale on the boiler heating surfaces. If the water delivered to the boiler contains even small amounts of scale-forming materials, the internal heating surfaces of the boilers can soon become coated with scale, leading to overheating, increased fuel consumption and subsequent tube failures. Even light or spotty scale deposition can be the foundation for hot spots, cracking, and distortion. For this reason, regularly cleaning the interior of steam generator and hot water systems is imperative.
Boiler maintenance is crucial to the continued efficient operation of your facility. One component to your boilers preventive maintenance program should be an annual cleaning to remove mineral scales that have accumulated within the boiler. These deposits are great insulators that inhibit heat exchange and cause the boiler to lose heat transfer, thus efficiency. For instance, scale that is only 3/16” thick will cause the boiler to use 27% more fuel! A common unknown fact is that boiler tube failures account for the majority of a power plant’s forced outages. This, all because the boiler may be suffering from inadequate heat transfer. Water scale deposited in steam boilers is usually harder and denser than deposits found in hot water boilers. This is due primarily to the temperatures involved.
But even the smallest amount of boiler scale deposits hamper good over-all heating efficiency. These mineral deposits may occur from poor blow down and/or poor water treatment practices. Mineral deposits come from:
• Operating hours
• Feed-water hardness
• Boiler treatment methods
• Operating temperatures
• Blow down techniques/procedures
• Feed-water control fluctuations
During this winter season, make sure your boilers are operating efficiently to save money and significantly reduce the risk of costly repairs down the road.
What Is… Struvite?
Struvite is a naturally occurring crystal of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate (NH4MgPO4·6(H2O). Struvite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system as white to yellowish or brownish-white pyramidal crystals or in platey mica-like forms. It can be a problem in sewage and waste water treatment, particularly after anaerobic digesters release ammonium and phosphate from waste material, as it forms a scale on lines and clogs system pipes. In some cases, struvite buildup has been known to have to consistency of concrete.
Struvite was first described from medieval sewer systems in Hamburg Germany in 1845 and named for geographer and geologist Heinrich Christian Gottfried von Struve (1772-1851). The first-known use of struvite as an agricultural fertilizer was first reported in 1857.
