Title: Reducing Hydrogen Sulfide Within Municipal Collection Systems Using Bioaugmentation
Learner Objectives:
Educate the audience of how they can reduce hydrogen sulfide within municipal collection systems using bioaugmentation treatment programs.
Content/Topic Outline:
Presenter:
Topic : Reducing hydrogen sulfide within municipal collection systems using bioaugmentation
Presenter: Josiah Menako - Bachelors in Microbiology from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Employed at Microbial Discovery Group for 7 years in the following rolls
Presentation Description:
Reducing hydrogen sulfide within municipal collection systems using bioaugmentation
Josiah Menako & Dan Romanek
Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its odorous smell, corrosive effect on infrastructure and danger to people makes it essential to control within municipal collections systems. The source of H2S and subsequent corrosion stems from anaerobic conditions coupled with long hydraulic retention time (HRT), accumulated fat, oil, grease (FOG), and high temperatures as all of which are common within force mains, lift stations and slow gravity lines. Under anaerobic conditions sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) utilize sulfate as their terminal electron acceptor to generate energy and expel H2S gas as a byproduct. They thrive in biofilms, solids and FOG accumulation in collections systems and utilize volatile fatty acids (VFA) as a carbon source.
Existing infrastructure has limited options to mitigate H2S generation within the collection lines and few that are truly preventative. Historically, applications of various chemistry such as nitrates, oxidizers and precipitants have been limited by the large footprint needed to store and dose the high volumes of chemistry required and at a significant annual cost.
The use of microbial bioaugmentation products and application programs appropriate for the severity of the situation within the collection system and ecologically limits production of H2S by SRB for preventative control that is, safe, small in footprint and cost effective.
Sometimes bioaugmentation products have seen limited success when used for H2S control in municipal collections systems. Factors potentially limiting success are often low/ inconsistent dose rates, incorrect dosing location, improper dosing method, insufficient duration of treatment, inadequate monitoring/measuring, inconsistent product quality.
In order to demonstrate viability of bioaugmentation as an H2S control option as well as to identify, account for and control potential factors that limit success; Microbial Discovery Group developed a product and application program and used it to treat lift stations, force mains and slow gravity lines for H2S control using our liquid product containing our Bacillus and micronutrients. Across 18 applications at 14 different municipalities we performed our process of surveying and treating successfully. Systems were all municipal with known H2S control issues ranging from odor complaints, to safety and corrosion concerns. Systems were surveyed to identify locations of H2S generation and treatment was applied upstream of problem locations. Systems were dosed multiple times daily for 1-6 months at a rate of 0.5-13ppm of product based on daily flow. We adjusted the dosage depending on severity of H2S, FOG, and HRT. Hydrogen sulfide gas was monitored with and without treatment at each location using OdaLogg and Acrulog gas monitors. Over 18 applications 77.7% resulted in successful reduction in H2S at problem locations. Average H2S reduction was 81% amongst successful applications. Results show that bioaugmentation products reliably and significantly reduce H2S within municipal collections systems given appropriate dose, treatment duration and dosing location. Bioaugmentation programs such as Biotifx® used in this study offer municipalities the ability to dose small volumes of product requiring little footprint and capitol expense into collections systems upstream of H2S formation thus preventing its effects. This limits corrosion, complaints, and improves safety.
Presenter Bio:
I'm a microbiologist with years of experience in R&D isolating Bacillus strains and performing laboratory analysis on their ability to benifit various markets. I then used that knowledge to provide technical laboratory support experience analyzing customers bacteria, wastewater, and the effect our bacillus have given wastewater system. This was further pursued by moving into a roll as our technical Service Lead and has evolved into, years of supporting sales, distribution partners and end users within the wastewater market. This includes frequent travel to wastwater facilities and frequently providing calssroom training, webinars, podcasts, newsletters and many other avenues of education.