Nutriox helps to promote the digestion of effluent before it reaches the
sewage treatment works (STW), according to Anette Asoy, concepts development
manager at HydroCare.
The findings will have important implications in the UK, where Nutriox is
already used by water companies at around 500 sites, to stop sewers
producing hydrogen sulphide (H2S), after turning septic in anaerobic
conditions.
This well-known problem often occurs in sewers with low flow rates and a
major build-up of organic matter.
The resulting H2S leaves pipes badly corroded after reacting with water to
form sulphuric acid, and when concentrations in air exceed 2-3ppm, it
becomes a serious odour nuisance. Higher concentrations can present a
serious health hazard to maintenance staff.
To combat this problem, Nutriox, which is basically a calcium nitrate
solution, works by increasing the redox potential of nitrate relative to
sulphate. This enables denitrifying bacteria to predominate at the expense
of sulphate reducing bacteria, reducing the risk of septicity.
In the German study of the Bitterfeld sewer network, the effects of adding
the solution were closely monitored over a period of two weeks.
Samples were taken at 17 points on the network, including 24hr samples at
pumping stations and three samples per day at manholes.
In comparison with a control period without Nutriox dosing, the report
concluded: ŒThere was no net change in suspended solids concentration,
because the degradation of suspended organic matter balanced the production
of biomass,’ but Œthe change in waste water quality may result in an
increased removal of organic matter in the pre-settling step of 34 per cent,
which then results in a corresponding reduced load on the biological step.’
Alkalinity was also observed to increase.
Critical factors affecting the degree of effluent quality improvement were
the proportion of wastewater in the network actually treated with Nutriox,
along with the retention time and flow rate.
Potential problems identified included an unacceptably high total nitrogen
level of 13.6 mg/l at the final sampling point, probably due to inadequate
mixing, and suspected precipitation of phosphate compounds on to the sewer
walls which could lead to later peaks in concentration when disturbed.
HydroCare has now developed computerised controllers which monitor key
effluent parameters throughout sewer networks, such as flow, temperature and
sulphide and optimise dosing levels.
The company is hoping to demonstrate that Nutriox is a cost-effective
option in a market where Œnitrate salts have previously been considered too
expensive.
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