With tightening limits on nutrients and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), is a small-scale biological system right for your industrial facility?
We will explore the ins and outs of biological wastewater treatment and how it fits into the industrial world around us. We will look at system sizes and requirements, bacteria and their capabilities, and how to successfully treat via physical/chemical means and still use bacteria as a final polish for your needs.
Introduction
Discharge permits are focusing more on Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and nutrient removal than metal removal. With this trend, we can no longer focus on just meeting the metal removal requirements. We must now focus on how to continue to meet the metal removal requirements while also meeting new BOD and nutrient removal requirements. This cannot always be done via physical/chemical means.
Enter the world of bacteria. These amazing creatures live to eat what we no longer find desirable in water. Special blends of bacteria can consume enough phosphorus to make it nondetectable in testing. While they do this, they also consume nitrogen and BOD. What types of bacteria can do this? What are their needs to stay healthy and alive long enough to do their job for us? How can an industrial manufacturer, whose water is often deadly to bacteria, utilize them in small, tight spaces? We will explore these questions, see photos of healthy bacteria, and discuss how to utilize them for your needs in detail.
