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Trouble achieving a healthy sludge blanket?
Is there to much inert solids in your sludge?
Do you have to raise your pH when using a coagulant?
Magnesium Hydroxide as a Coagulant
When Magnesium Hydroxide is added to a wastewater stream it’s most obvious benefit is to increase the pH and Alkalinity through the controlled release of hydroxide (OH–). Less obvious are the coagulation benefits provided by the divalent Magnesium cation (Mg2+).
The higher the charge (valence) on any ion, the higher the charge density of that ion. An increase in charge density makes it more like a magnet, giving the ion a strong ability to draw negative charged particles towards it. This attraction between positive and negative ions is what leads to enhanced coagulation.
The effect of increasing charge density is shown with the decreasing sizes of the sodium (Na+), magnesium(Mg2+) and aluminum (Al3+) ions. Due to it’s large size and low charge, the sodium ion (Na+) does not possess coagulation properties. Alternatively, the aluminum ion (Al3+) has a high charge density making it very usefully as a coagulant, in such products as alum and poly aluminum chloride.
The charge density of the magnesium ion (Mg2+) is between that of Na+ and Al3+, resulting in many wastewater applications that show coagulation benefits. In such instances, the customers enjoy both cost savings from replacement of caustic soda, as well as a reduction in polymer usage in solids dewatering.
A major issue with Al3+ based coagulants s that they are typically acidic and, as a result, depress the pH and consume alkalinity when used. Magnesium Hydroxide provides an alternative to this depressed pH by simultaneously providing coagulation with an alkalinity boost.
ALKA-Mag+ for improving sludge compaction
ALKA-Mag+ (60% Mg(OH)2) has a higher neutralizing value per pound than any other alkaline additive. This translates into a 40% reduction in chemical usage when compared with caustic soda, while being significantly safer for operators to handle and more nutritive for the microorganisms being maintained – making it the most cost-effective option.
* In 2022, AMALGAM-60 was renamed ALKA-Mag+, improved stability, flowability, and reactivity from IER & Calix’s synergy.
Find out moreKey Benefits
Reduced sludge volume making for lower cost sludge disposal
Stabilized pH throughout the wastewater treatment system
Magnesium is a macronutrient, the core element in chlorophyll that makes everything green – while sodium is a salinity hazard
Non-hazardous for employees to handle, corrosion free, spill is not reportable
latest news
September 14, 2020 \ ACTI-Mag \ Improving the Sustainability of Water Treatment \ Food & Beverage
Achieving sustainable dairy wastewater management with magnesium hydroxide
ALKA-Mag+, an innovative magnesium hydroxide slurry, was used by a dairy processor in the Pacific Northwest to provide better pH
May 18, 2020 \ ACTI-Mag \ Improving the Sustainability of Water Treatment \ Food & Beverage
An innovative mixed-metal hydroxide for pH control and wastewater microorganism activity
An innovative mixed-metal hydroxide for pH control and wastewater microorganism activity at a meat processing facility in the United-States.
September 11, 2020 \ ACTI-Mag \ Improving the Sustainability of Water Treatment \ Food & Beverage
Converting from caustic to magnesium hydroxide 
Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility, operated by Jacobs, processes 8 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater collected from
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