Dissolved air flotation chemicals halved at a Texas plant
Dissolved air flotation chemicals were not controlling the recirculating wastewater at a Texas industrial plant. The water was murky, microbially contaminated and giving off strong foul odours, despite chlorine and polymer dosing in the DAF tank. Cleaning and water replacement were too frequent, and each time the plant tried dosing its way out, the odour came back. For a 14-week evaluation, one HydroFLOW® i150 was fitted to the six inch circulating pipe entering the DAF tank. Chemical dosing was cut by half, the cleaning interval extended sixfold, the odour went and the water cleared.
The Challenges
- Dissolved air flotation chemicals, chlorine and polymer, needed reducing
- Recirculating wastewater was murky and microbially contaminated
- Strong foul odours came back each time the plant increased dosing
- Cleaning and water replacement were too frequent
- The plant wanted the result proven over a full evaluation period
The Solution
- Unit installed: one HydroFLOW® i150
- Installation point: wastewater circulating pipe entering the DAF tank
- Pipe size: six inch
- Trial: 14-week evaluation during normal production
- Previous treatment: chlorine and polymer dosing
The unit was fitted to the wastewater circulating pipe entering the DAF tank and left in place through 14 weeks of normal production. The signal improves flocculation, so suspended solids separate more cleanly and the microbial load that caused the odour is controlled. Dissolved air flotation chemicals and cleaning figures were recorded across the evaluation to show how both changed.
