Warmer weather frequently increases the bacterial growth in the recirculation tanks. Usually this is not a problem in most metals removal applications but in aqueous cleaner recovery applications or in metals removal applications with a high soap background bacterial growth can be a problem. High bacteria levels in the recirculation tank frequently cause low filtrate rates, excessive pressure drop across the micro filter, and dramatically decrease the service cycle between chemical cleanings. This potential problem can easily be avoided or overcome by routine daily dosing of hydrogen peroxide to the recirculation tank during peak bacterial growth periods. Consult Treatment Products for dosage recommendations for your specific application.

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In aqueous cleaner or detergent recovery applications bacteria frequently grow in both the filtrate collection tank and in the recirculation tank. Most installations routinely add hydrogen peroxide to the filtrate collection tank to reduce the obnoxious odor. The recirculation tank however is frequently ignored because the odors are less objectionable. However many installations experience periodic decreases in filtrate rate or dramatic increases in cleaning frequency. In many cases these operational deficiencies are contributed to or caused by bacteria growth in the recirculation tank.

 The next time your system experiences the above symptoms take a sample from the recirculation tank and dose it with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. If a vigorous reaction occurs as exhibited by foaming or bubbling then your recirculation tank may contain a large bacteria colony. Routine dosing of Hydrogen Peroxide to the recirculation tank should be strongly considered. CONSULT TREATMENT PRODUCTS FOR DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC APPLICATION.

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If you use a bag filter for sludge dewatering you probably are aware of the importance of not overfilling the bags. Not only do the bags become quite heavy and difficult to remove from the filter chamber, but sometimes the bottom of the retainer bag breaks. The best solution is not to overfill the bags, this can be best accomplished by shortening the cycle between filter bag change-outs. Another approach that often helps with easily dewatered sludges is to decrease the air supply pressure to the bag filter air diaphragm pump by decreasing the air regulator set-point by 5 to 10 pounds reducing the operating pressure of the bag filter to 25 to 30 PSIG. This practice will cause the bag filter inlet pump to stall at a lower pressure, and less solids or sludge will be in the bag, but the sludge will contain more water and will require a longer air blow down interval to achieve a relatively dry cake.

If you still continue to experience frequent retainer bag failures there is Now a Custom Retainer Bag available that has a reinforced bottom. This new retainer bag has reduced the failure rate for several of our customers.

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If so do not panic! You are not alone many municipalities are continuing to issue more stringent discharge permit standards. If you have an existing treatment system the first step is to determine if your past performance consistently complies with the proposed more stringent limits. In most cases the actual effluent performance of an existing system is far superior to the original design specification and may already meet or surpass your proposed new standards. If so no further work is require

If not the next step is to optimize the operation of your existing system. Shut the system down, empty all of the process tanks clean out any accumulated debris, solids or sludges, Check the internals of all tanks, check all sub-components and make sure that nothing is damaged or missing. Calibrate all meters and gauges that control the process chemistry. Replace or repair any probes or gauges that will not calibrate properly. Determine the optimum treatment conditions by performing bench scale treatability tests. Check all controller set-points and make sure that they are set for the optimum treatment conditions. Return the system to service and monitor the operation, after system equilibrium is achieved begin taking daily composite samples and have them analyzed to determine if the system performance has improved enough to consistently meet your new limits with an acceptable safety margin .

If your effluent still does not meet the new effluent limits perform treatability tests to determine if alternative treatment chemistries will aid the system performance. If an alternative chemistry looks promising test it on the system and verify the performance as above. If an acceptable alternative chemistry can not be found then post treatment options should be considered to polish the system effluent to consistently meet your new limits with an acceptable safety margin .

Treatment Products can assist you with any or all phases of your compliance evaluation process, determine the best chemistry for compliance, and supply any necessary post treatment equipment.

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As discharge limits continue to tighten or as enforcement of existing limits increases many of our customers and others have been forced to improve their average effluent quality. In most cases this has been accomplished simply by improving the operation of the existing system. Often paying a little more attention to the waste treatment system, narrowing the pH band acceptable for discharge, and better scheduling of system maintenance and calibration of all probes and meters is all that is necessary.

In some cases however the limits have become so strict that it has been necessary to supplement the precipitation of heavy metals as hydroxides with the use of sulfide precipitation or post treatment such as ion exchange or absorption. The use of various sulfide compounds for precipitation of heavy metals is quite common. Metal Sulfides are generally less soluble than similar metal hydroxides. In most cases the addition of 5 to 50 PPM of sulfide to a metal hydroxide precipitation system will dramatically improve the final effluent quality. The use of sulfide usually will also improve the removal of chelated or completed metal ions as well. Sulfide chemistries work well for common chelating agents such as NTA, EDTA, and Gluconates and complexing agents such as ammonia

Treatment Products can provide chemical feed packages and controls to prepare and feed the Sulfide solution and any other necessary reagents. Typically the sulfide feed pump is controlled such that it strokes in tandem with the caustic feed pump and the sulfide is fed proportionately to the caustic added.

One disadvantage of using a sulfide based chemistry is the potential for forming odorous toxic hydrogen sulfide gas when either the sludge or the effluent is acidified. However there are many ways to reduce the risk of this occurring. In many situations the advantages of this chemistry far outweigh the disadvantages

Polishing selective ion exchange or absorption can also be an effective methods of removing trace metals. In metals removal waste treatment and recovery applications with low metals effluent limits conventional precipitation systems may be unable to continuously and consistently achieve compliance. The effluent from a conventional precipitation system can be further treated by ion exchange or selective absorbents to consistently reduce the total metals to as low as 20 PPB with a properly selected ion exchange resin or absorbents. With properly selected media even chelated or complexed metals can be removed. Typically the media is chosen based on its ability to selectively remove the contaminants (metals, or metal complexes) from the waste stream while allowing the background salts to pass through. Treatment Products provides units with both regenerable and disposable media. Generally regenerable units are used for high flow or high inlet contaminant concentration applications, and disposable units are used for low flow or low inlet contaminant concentration applications.

Treatment Products can assist you with any or all phases of improving your effluent discharge quality. We can assist you in optimizing the performance of your existing system and recommend and supply any necessary post treatment equipment.

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