Wastewater Treatment

Micro-organisms need a balanced addition of nutrients such as Nitrogen and Phosphorus to produce the healthy biomass that is so essential to the removal of organic substances in biological purification processes.

We specialise in balancing industrial effluents to achieve optimum performance from secondary treatment systems. First of all we ensure that the correct amount of the macronutrients Nitrogen and Phosphorus are present by adding SciSol 1000, a Nitrogen and Phosphorus containing nutrient solution.

We have found that deficiencies of trace elements are a frequently overlooked cause of many of the micro-biological problems that occur in treatment systems.  SciSol 2000, our unique trace element solution, has proved effective at controlling a number of biological problems such as pin-floc, filamentous bulking and Nocardial foaming on activated sludge plants.

To supply a more complete solution to nutrient deficiency we have combined macro- and micro-nutrients together with a vitamin mix. Called SciSol VitaMax this product has the same N and P content as our normal nutrient product but has just that little bit extra!

Typical areas of application

• Activated Sludge

• Biotowers and other biofilters

• Anaerobic reactors

Septicity occurs in waste water where dissolved oxygen has been consumed and anaerobic conditions are formed. This can be avoided by the addition of our specially developed nitrate based products this changes the bacterial population.  A bacterial culture is established which not only removes the H2S that has already been formed, but also prevents the occurrence of septic conditions.

Our customers include municipal sewer systems, treatment plants and companies with industrial wastewater concerns. Dosing occurs at pumping stations, in gravity sewers, manholes and various places in a treatment plant where wastewater and sludge have a long retention time and a lack of Oxygen

Dosing depends on a number of factors such as the content of organic substances, dimensions of the sewer network, temperature and wastewater flow. In order to avoid applying too much or too little product we have developed a range of dosing controllers to provide controlled and optimal dosing of product based on a site survey carried out by our experienced technical team.

Septicity causes a wide range of negative effects:

• Danger to personal health
• Public odour complaints
• Reduced treatability
• Infrastructure corrosion

Corrosion starts when bacteria oxidise hydrogen sulphide into sulphuric acid on damp pipe surfaces and concrete walls. The concrete corrodes when the lime is dissolved to neutralise the sulphuric acid, this forms calcium sulphate, which gets washed away. The reinforcing metal is then exposed and corrodes.

Gravity sewers and manholes in particular are liable to this type of corrosion. Furthermore, hydrogen sulphide causes corrosion in electrical installations and in metal constructions at treatment plants and pumping stations. The mechanism for metal corrosion is a chemical reaction between hydrogen sulphide and metals with the formation of the respective metal sulphides.

Corrosion means higher maintenance costs for sewer systems. Groundwater infiltration into damaged pipes will dilute the wastewater and increase the hydraulic strain on the system. Wastewater will also leak out from the damaged pipes and pollute the groundwater. Replacement of the damaged pipes is a costly and extensive task. In cities and built-up areas this kind of maintenance work can also be an additional burden to residents and road users.

Corrosion causes a wide range of negative effects:

• High cost repairs/maintenance
• Groundwater infiltration
• Danger to the public
• Danger to staff