Paper Mill Wastewater System Receives Phosphorous Treatment
The existing wastewater treatment system of a pulp and paper facility in China uses 600 kg per day of diammonium phosphate (DAP) to provide the needed phosphorus concentration to maintain a healthy microbial population to treat wastewater. These microorganisms break down the organic matter being discharged from the paper processing facility. Without the correct concentration of available phosphorus, the microorganisms are unable to grow and reproduce. The facility’s effluent has a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 200mg/L. The plant is striving to reduce costs while maintaining the wastewater treatment plant’s efficiency.
Treatment Solution
The facility agreed to use Super Phos from Probiotic Solutions replacing the DAP fertilizer. The daily dose of Super Phos was 75 kg versus 600 kg per day of DAP. This large reduction in chemicals “reduced storage space required as well as labor costs in moving and dosing the product.” In addition, by using Super Phos, the chemical costs were reduced by more than 17%. Treatment efficiency was maintained even with the significant reduction in the dosing of phosphorous into the wastewater treatment plant. The effluent COD was maintained at 200 mg/L. Furthermore, after the addition of Super Phos a microscopic analysis of the sludge showed the microbiology to be more active and regrowth was more vigorous.
Results
Replacing DAP with Super Phos from Probiotic Solutions lowered chemical costs by over 17%, reduced labor hours and necessary storage facilities, and improved the microbiology in the wastewater while maintaining the treatment efficiency. In addition, by reducing the amount of phosphorus being added to the system has reduced corrosion and deposits in pipelines further reducing operation and maintenance costs.
Super Phos is a phosphorous product scientifically complexed with Micro Carbon Technology, developed in response to the reactivity of phosphorous in wastewater. Over the years this product has proven to save money and improve plant performance by maximizing phosphorous bioavailability with minimum phosphorous input. Super Phos is an essential component of energy-carrying phosphate compounds (ATP and ADP), nucleic acids, several essential coenzymes and phospholipids. Super Phos starts out as white phosphoric acid that is pre-complexed with organic acids to ensure maximum availability to microorganisms. Super Phos has proven itself in wastewater applications where maximum performance is required and minimum effluent phosphorous concentrations are demanded.
Operators using Super Phos report:
- • Reduced material costs, easier handling, and improved treatment performance. Typically 1/4 to 1/10 the amount of Super Phos is used compared to common grade phosphoric acid nutrients.
- • Super Phos is more bio-available than regular phosphorous compounds. Super Phos is a more bioavailable phosphorous for the microorganisms thus requiring less phosphorous to be applied and lower phosphorous discharges to receiving waters because it is protected from precipitating or tieing up with other ions in water.
- • Increases in BOD removal efficiency. Super Phos improves treatment plant removal efficiency to increase plant treatment capacity and more easily meet effluent requirements.
Shawn Whitmer, P.E., is director of engineering and probiotic solutions for Probiotic Solutions. Whitmer can be reached at [email protected] or 480.423.6806.
