Problem: PAA Toxicity to Anaerobic and Aerobic Wastewater
The increased usage of per-acetic acid and peroxyacetic acid (PAA’s) is causing waste stream toxicity issues in food processing company’s wastewater treatment systems. The high concentrations of PAA hitting wastewater plants is causing poor performance in anaerobic lagoons and causing loss of nitrification, poor mixed liquor settling and foaming in aeration basins.
The addition of reduced sulfur salts such as sodium meta-bisulfite and thiosulfate, while partially removing the PAA, can have negative impacts on biological wastewater treatment. The high concentration of sulfate or sulfite drastically increases waste stream TDS, provides sulfates that leads to increased sulfur reducing bacteria which interferes with methanogen growth and results in waste sludge with increased hydrogen sulfide content. The introduction of meta-bisulfite and thiosulfate will increase the amount of reduced sulfur compounds to the aerobic wastewater process thereby increasing nitrification inhibition. When adding these reduced sulfur salts all that is being accomplished is the replacement of one toxicant for another toxicant.
Solution to PAA Toxicity to Anaerobic and Aerobic Wastewater
Another route to take instead of utilizing meta-bisulfite or thiosulfate to remove PAA from a food processing waste stream is to introduce a safe reduced organic compound that is sulfur/sulfate free. Hydro Solutions has developed the first nitrifying bacteria friendly PAA removal biochemical. NEUTRAOX – PAA FORMULA has been specially formulated to safely and effectively remove peracetic acid and peroxyacetic acid from industrial food processing waste streams. The introduction of NEUTRAOX – PAA FORMULA will detoxify the influx of PAA into the biological treatment system. It will improve wastewater nitrification, reduce mixed liquor foaming and improve the anaerobic treatment process when it has been negatively impacted from the usage of PAA in a meat processing or food processing waste stream.
For more information on how we can help contact Randy Drake at 618-946-9694.
