WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

Wastewater treatment systems are designed to improve water that has been mixed with waste matter. There are many types of wastewater, including; food and dairy processing water, industrial processing water, water discharged from homes, metalworking and plating water, extreme pH water, oil contaminated water, slaughterhouse water, pharmaceutical and pesticide water, papermaking water, etc. There are numerous treatment processes used to treat wastewater depending on the type and severity of the contamination. Most wastewater is treated using physical, chemical and/or biological treatment processes.

• pH

  Control of pH is an important part of any wastewater treatment systems. In order for a wastewater treatment plant to perform properly and to meet effluent permit requirements, pH adjustment may be necessary.

• Dissolved Metals

  Some wastewater contains both soluble and insoluble metals. The wastewater treatment facility must remove enough of these metals to meet their discharge permit.

• BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)

  BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) is a measurement of the amount of oxygen that aerobic bacteria consume to break down organic material in a water sample over a specific time period. BOD is used as a measurement of the effectiveness of biological wastewater treatment plants. If BOD is not properly controlled, permit violations, surcharges can occur.

• TSS (Total Suspended Solids)

  TSS (Total Suspended Solids) is a measurement of total solid materials both organic and inorganic that are suspended in water. It is important to control TSS in wastewater in order to comply with discharge permits and to reduce possible surcharges.

• Odor

  In some wastewater applications, noxious odors are present in the water or are produced by septic conditions in the wastewater treatment plant.

• Corrosion

  Septic conditions in wastewater can produce hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide gas causes low pH in the wastewater and increases corrosion to the treatment equipment. Hydrogen sulfide gas can also become airborne and cause corrosion damage to the wastewater treatment facility. Hydrogen sulfide gas is also toxic and lethal.

• Foam

  Some wastewater will produce foam that can cause tanks to overflow or cause foaming problems downstream of the treatment plant.

• pH Control

  Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide are the primary products used to control pH in wastewater.

  • Pur Flo pH Elevations and Reductions
  • Control Panels & Assemblies
  • Process Control Systems

• Metal Precipitation

  Some facilities employ hydroxide precipitation to precipitate metals at a specified pH. Hydroxide precipitation takes advantage of the fact that specific metals become insoluble at a specified pH. After hydroxide precipitation, flocculant is used to increase the particle size to assist in removal using treatment equipment.

  Some metal bearing wastewater contains chelating agents that will not allow hydroxide precipitation methods to work. In these cases, a metal precipitant is used to break the dissolved metals from solution.

  • Pur Flo pH Elevations and Reductions
  • Pur Flo Heavy Metal Precipitants
  • Pur Flo Anionic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Cationic Flocculants

• Coagulation

  Finely dispersed particles in wastewater are negatively charged and repel each other. These particles will not settle or filter out of the water because of their small size. Cationic coagulants are added to the wastewater and provide a positive charge that reduces the negative charge on the particles. These particles can now collide and form larger particles called pin floc that will filter out of the wastewater or can be made larger through the use of a flocculant. There are several types of coagulants. Bench top studies are performed to determine the coagulant that will perform well in a particular wastewater.

  • Pur Flo Cationic Coagulants
  • Pur Flo Inorganic Coagulants

• Flocculation

  After coagulation, the addition of a flocculant is often necessary in order to form a larger floc that will either settle or float in the wastewater treatment equipment.

  Flocculants are also often used without first applying a coagulant. Bench top studies are usually performed in order to determine the proper flocculant needed for a particular wastewater. Flocculant choices in include anionic, cationic, and non-ionic. Other categories include different charge densities and molecular weights.

  • Pur Flo Cationic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Anionic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Non-ionic Flocculant

• BOD Reduction

  If BOD is in its insoluble form, then much of this BOD can be removed using separation equipment, and coagulants and/or flocculants. If the BOD is soluble, bio-augmentation products, nutrients, and enzymes can be added to enhance a biological wastewater treatment system’s ability to reduce BOD.

  • Pur Flo Cationic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Anionic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Non-ionic Flocculant
  • Pur Flo Cationic Coagulants
  • Pur Flo Inorganic Coagulants
  • Pur Flo pH Elevations and Reductions
  • Pur Flo Enzymes
  • Miscellaneous Pur Flo Chemical Products

• TSS Reduction

  TSS is removed from the water using separation equipment and through the use of coagulants and/or flocculants. pH adjustment may also be required.

  • Pur Flo Cationic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Anionic Flocculants
  • Pur Flo Non-ionic Flocculant
  • Pur Flo Cationic Coagulants
  • Pur Flo Inorganic Coagulants
  • Pur Flo pH Elevations and Reductions

• Odor

  There is no one way to treat odor in wastewater applications. Some of the many methods are source reduction, oxidation, masking, pH adjustment, enzymes, etc.

  • Pur Flo pH Elevations and Reductions
  • Pur Flo Enzymes
  • Miscellaneous Pur Flo Chemical Products
  • Chlorine Dioxide Feed System

• Corrosion

  Corrosion problems in wastewater treatment system can be pH and/or hydrogen sulfide related. Hydrogen sulfide generation in a wastewater system is related to anaerobic conditions. Mechanical aeration and/or chemical treatment can help to eliminate these conditions.

  • Miscellaneous Pur Flo Chemical Products
  • Chlorine Dioxide Feed System

• Foam

  Causes of foam in a wastewater treatment plant can be chemical, biological, or mechanical. Defoamer is usually used to control foam in wastewater treatment systems.

  • Miscellaneous Pur Flo Chemical Products