As the premier supplier of magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, we’re here to explain why AlkapHix® is the right choice for your beverage industry wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Whether you are a WWTP operator, engineer, or owner, you may find this content advantageous when making a decision on how to improve your wastewater treatment processes and employee health and safety.
Topics covered within this post include:
Evaluating Water Quality: pH and Alkalinity
Solubility
AlkapHix®: Slurry vs. Powder
Reduced Safety Concerns
Having an adequate wastewater treatment system is crucial for any beverage processing region that wishes to quench your thirst on a large scale.
Municipalities require that beverage industries either pay a fee or treat their own wastewater since the byproducts can disrupt treatment procedures within the local community treatment plant. Although this complex treatment requirement is taxing on the beverage manufacturer, Garrison Minerals can help ease such practices by providing a safer and more cost-effective alternative for the necessary pH and alkalinity support. A simple shift from using hazardous materials, primarily caustic soda or hydrated lime, to magnesium hydroxide, will give the same results with increased efficiency. Not to mention, there are less safety concerns and it is a more environmentally friendly product.
AlkapHix® is a high-quality magnesium hydroxide alkaline powder that can be utilized in the dry or slurry form. It can be scaled and utilized for any type of beverage industry looking to balance their wastewater pH. Whichever form you choose, both will deliver the desired pH. And, remember, we’re always here to help navigate your choice.
Evaluating Water Quality: pH and Alkalinity
A typical wastewater treatment plant may perform physical and chemical remediation before beginning biological treatment. During beverage production, solid waste is generated and that waste alters the chemistry of the water pH to become highly acidic.
One of the challenges of treating beverage wastewater is stabilizing the pH in order to keep the bugs happy. If the bugs are not happy, the treatment plant may suffer the consequences of failing to meet effluent standards.
Introducing magnesium hydroxide to the system provides an adequate amount of alkalinity necessary to remediate and maintain healthy pH levels in order for such bugs to thrive.
Solubility
One of the many advantages of AlkapHix® is its limited solubility in water. Normally, when a wastewater treatment system experiences an overdose (too much alkali has been added), the pH can reach a value as high as 14. When this happens, you must add acid to reduce the pH back down to between 6 and 8. Ironic, right? Yet, you don’t experience this with Mg(OH)2 due to its limited solubility.
A pH between 8 and 9 is what you would expect if an overdose of AlkapHix® were to occur.
AlkapHix®: Slurry vs. Dry
Slurry
Currently, the most common method for dosing Magnesium Hydroxide involves the introduction of a slurry directly into the wastewater stream. It must be applied straightaway or continuously agitated (mixed) while in storage –as to avoid possible caking and settling.
Operating with slurry requires a dosing pump. A variety of dosing pumps are available. We have had the greatest success with hose pumps. These pumps provide a good range of dosing at often the low dosing volumes required on a daily basis. The slurry is pumped from the storage container and guided through a hose that leads to the dosing site.
If you receive less than truckload quantities, whether it’s delivered in barrels or totes, those containers will need to be properly disposed of or returned for refill.
Powder
The advanced method of dosing alkali is dry magnesium hydroxide, in which AlkapHix® comes in the powdered form. The dry powder allows for variable dosing rates and for locations that simply need spot dosing, i.e. lagoons, retention ponds. There are situations where adequate power for agitation may not be available. AlkapHix® powder empowers customers to dose Magnesium Hydroxide with little-to-no external power requirements.
Dry AlkapHix® powder lets you “choose when you use” and gives operators the ability to dose as they please, while removing energy costs associated with magnesium hydroxide storage and the hassle of monitoring and mixing slurry.
Reduced Safety Concerns
Caustic soda and lime have been the go-to chemicals, as far as what wastewater treatment plants have been utilizing for water pH and alkalinity balance. Although they have been successful in meeting the needs of the treatment systems, there are growing concerns about the variable costs per pound, the residual sludge produced requiring disposal, and the health and safety risks of the plant and its employees.
Below is a cross-comparison table of the different alkali safety and health hazards:
So, as we have shared, ensuring the adequacy of the wastewater treatment system is crucial for beverage facilities. Garrison Minerals is prepared with the knowledge, manpower, creativity and material to help establish the system or transition the system to a safer one for employees.
Contact us today to discuss whether AlkapHix® Slurry or Powder is best for your system. We are here to keep your bugs happy!