Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid,
a preferred solution for odor control

INTRODUCTION

Mission Beach is a mixed residential and tourist area in the Queensland wet tropics region and is home to the iconic Cassowary.

A sewerage scheme was commissioned by Cassowary Coast Regional Council in 2006 to collect the wastewater from three constituent communities and pump by two major stations, at Wongaling Beach and North Mission Beach, to the Main Transfer Pump Station (MTPS).

The MTPS then pumps 23km to the Tully Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).

This sewer main suffered significant corrosion due to “rotten egg gas” (H2S) release in the drained sections. The Tully plant is designed for partial bio-phosphate removal with trimming by liquid alum dosing and powder lime dosing for alkalinity and pH correction.

A trial of Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid (MHL) dosing commenced in December 2017 with the primary objective being to control septicity, odor and corrosion issues. IER also proposed the additional objectives:

• the control of Fats, Oils & Greases (FOGs) build-up
• elimination of lime dosing at the Tully plant
•  significant reduction of alum dosing for phosphate removal

The trial eliminated odors by maintaining pH between 8.2 and 8.5. Pump station cleaning has been substantially reduced due to decreased FOGs accumulation. The lime dosing system was prone to blockage and breakdowns, however dosing of Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid has allowed suspension of lime dosing. Also, the Alum dose rate has been reduced by more than 75% whilst still consistently meeting the phosphate effluent discharge limits

Fats, oils and greases (FOGs)

A challenging issue

Fats, oils and greases can build up and become fatbergs.

Fatbergs are caused when oils and fats are tipped down the drain and congeal with other products, including so-called flushable wet wipes.

While each state has their own utility providers, there were at least 360 blockages per months caused by fatbergs in sewers serviced by QUU — which take in the Brisbane area and four other local councils. That’s out of a total of 3,500 blockages in QUU sewer pipes that together cost $1.2 million to clear.

Fatbergs also caused almost 250 sewage overflows.

But fats, oils and greases also play an important role in wastewater treatment plants, particularly those with anaerobic digesters that capture biogas to generate electrical and thermal energy.

Dosing your network with Magnesium Hydroxide significantly eliminates H2S odors and saponifies and dissolves fats oils and greases (FOGs).

Read the article: The Courier Mail

Why is Magnesium Hydroxide different to generic magnesium hydroxide slurries?

Magnesium Hydroxide is a concentrated and stabilised suspension of magnesium hydroxide (also known as milk of magnesia). An inorganic compound with the chemical formula Mg(OH)2.

Highly fluid, Magnesium Hydroxide has proven to flow easily in most dosing systems. With a higher neutralising value per dry kilo when compared with caustic and lime and being significantly safer than other traditional alkalis, Magnesium Hydroxide is a very cost competitive option for hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S) control in sewers and industrial waste treatment as well as for several other applications including phosphorus and partial nitrogen removal from wastewater.

Magnesium Hydroxide has several advantages over other generic MHLs.

• Neutralises waste streams up to 30% faster than generic brands.
• The pH peaks at 10.3 and buffers in the solution between 8.5 and 9.
• The MHL dissolves slowly over time with particles remaining in suspension for as long as needed.

Slurry chemistry podcast Magnesium Hydroxide’s reactivity in wastewater treatment

Watch our slurry chemistry podcast to understand Magnesium Hydroxide’s reactivity in wastewater treatment:

At Mission beach (MB) sewerage scheme

Following the success of the trial at Mission Beach, IER was awarded a multi-year contract for the supply of magnesium hydroxide, dosing equipment and monitoring services.

• 3 sub-catchments – North MB, Wongaling Beach, South MB.
• 18 pump stations.
• Pumped to Tully STP (23 km).
• 2.5 – 3 day retention time in dry weather.
• MB ~ 800 kL/d ADWF or 40 – 45% of total Tully STP inflow.
• Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid trial started on Dec 12th, 2017.
• STP Alum and Lime dosing – for Phosphorus removal and alkalinity addition/pH control.

Primary objectives and success criteria for the network

• Controlling the odor within the catchment, H2S < 5 ppm.
• Eliminating build-up of FOGs in the sewer Secondary objectives and success criteria for the network and plant
• Reduce corrosion within the network.
• Demonstrating no detrimental impact on the STP.
• Reducing or eliminating lime dosing at the STP.
• Enhancing the removal of Phosphorus (P) and Nitrogen (N).
• Consequently, reducing Alum dose at the STP. catchment, particularly at pump stations

H2S Chemistry

H2S(aq) => HS – + H +

At high pH HS – predominates

• Limited H 2S release (locked-up)
• Greatly reduced odor & corrosion

Reduce H2S and odors to negligible levels, FOG build-up & cleaning

Observations show that Magnesium Hydroxide:
• Reduced H2S and odor to negligible levels within 3-4 days of dosing.
• Eliminated FOGs build-up within the network and allowed rags to flow through to be captured by the STP.
• Eliminated the use of costly vacuum trucks to clean out ‘fatbergs.’

Watch our success story – Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid for odor control

• The pH levels the STP were stable and no low pH events occurred.
• Lime dosing was eliminated, leading to significant operational and maintenance cost saving; the alkalinity in effluent and the plant’s pH was stabilised.
• Use of Alum dose was reduced by 75%, resulting in cost saving; consistently low effluent phosphorus concentration < 0.5 mg/L was observed regardless of flow.

FOGs breakdown process

Wastewater has large quantities of low density, long-chain fatty acids.

Magnesium hydroxide slowly releases hydroxyl ions, which breakdown low-density, large-chain fatty acids into glycerol and various types of soap, both of which are more readily digested by bacteria in wastewater.

The Carboxylate salts that are produced further facilitate the breakdown of other fats.

Struvite

A treatable nuisance

Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate (MAP), commonly known as Struvite, is a crystalline precipitate of Magnesium, Ammonia, and Phosphate.

Mg²+ + NH4 + + PO4³- + H2O => Mg.NH4.PO4.6H2O (s)

Nuisance Struvite forms in pipe bends due to pressure differential in the flow, release of dissolved CO2 & a small rise in pH . This leads to a crystalline build-up creating blockages and restricting flow.

The advantage of dosing magnesium hydroxide is that it precipitates ammonia and phosphate as struvite directly in the sludge matrix and stops uncontrolled struvite forming in pipelines and on treatment structures.

Turnkey solutions

for chemical dosing, wherever you are located.

We can help you review and optimise your wastewater process to make sure your system is running smoothly and cost effectively.

The unique and highly reactive property magnesium hydroxide offers many benefits:

• Efficient H2S levels and odor management
• Dissolution of Fats, Oils and Greases (FOGs)
• Elimination of struvite blockages
• Tangible chemical and maintenance costs savings

Engineered by us, our cost-effective dosing solutions are designed to meet your specific needs and budget.

Quick to install, IER modular dosing units can be delivered to site by truck and are fast to set up and connect.

IER leverages a culture of innovation to provide fully customised services such as:

• design, engineering, installation, and commissioning of dosing equipment;
• monitoring and reporting services to ensure full and ongoing control H2S and pH levels, whilst optimising usage rate and chemical costs.

…so that you can review your network, get the information you need – when you need it – to make sound decisions based on reliable data.