It’s a fact – all Magnesium Hydroxide slurries are not created equal. Why take chances with a Lime or Caustic blend? These lower quality, poorly refined products are being offered – sometimes by questionable suppliers – who are aware of the negative consequences their “blended” product will deliver. Costly negative consequences can include:
UPSET MICROORGANISMS in Biological Processes
POORER QUALITY cake solids, driving up dewatering, disposal and hauling costs
DANGER TO STAFF, creating safety hazards and driving up insurance costs
Adding DETRIMENTAL SCALE and increasing O&M costs
Increased truck traffic due to WEAKER ALKALINE concentration
Thioguard® technical grade magnesium hydroxide, is the only Mg(OH)2 product that can deliver the highest alkalinity as well as safe and consistent pH levels throughout your treatment process. There is no higher grade, or more concentrated form, of Mg(OH)2 slurry than Thioguard. Nothing else comes close in terms of purity, reactivity and stability.
The recent development of these blended chemistries, combining caustic soda or lime with Mg(OH)2 is either an attempt to disguise a lower quality magnesium hydroxide, or a problematic attempt to gain the benefits of magnesia, without the negative consequences of caustic soda and lime. Unfortunately, even the smallest quantities of caustic and lime will negatively affect your entire process, and will likely end up being extremely costly, in the long run. It turns out you do get what you pay for, and when you “cut corners” by introducing lime or caustic soda, your plant is very likely to get burned in the process.
ALL MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE IS NOT CREATED EQUAL… AND BLENDED PRODUCTS CANNOT DELIVER THE BENEFITS OF Mg(OH)2 WITHOUT INTRODUCING MULTIPLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
THIOGUARD Offers:
A Premium Patented Technology – Sourced and Produced in the US
In plants currently using metal salts, the addition of
THIOGUARD technical grade magnesium hydroxide can REDUCE OR ELIMINATE METAL SALT DEPENDENCY
Increased regulation of total phosphorus limits are a fact of life, and another challenge for WWT plant operators and engineers. In most treatment plants, metal salts (ferrous/ferric or aluminum) are added for the treatment of phosphates.
Caustic Soda pricing is subject to a variety of pressures, from basic supply and demand issues to market manipulation – even international trade can cause price fluctuations. THIOGUARD technical grade magnesium hydroxide offers greater “price reliability,” and delivers a safe and effective alternative to Caustic Soda.
Budget Uncertainty
Challenging Contract Management when driven to forcemajeure re-pricing
CAUSTIC SODA = CHEMICAL VOLATILITY AND PROCESS UPSET… RESULTING IN HIGHER COSTS
Caustic Soda is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE CHEMICAL listed on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. Caustic Soda on contact can burn the skin and the eyes and can cause permanent lung damage through inhalation. Caustic soda in contact with water can create enough heat to ignite combustibles and the resulting fire will produce poisonous gases. THIOGUARD and THIOGUARD ΩMEGA-S technical grade magnesium hydroxide is an effective, non-hazardous alternative to Caustic Soda. By converting to THIOGUARD, wastewater utilities are able to eliminate hundreds of hazardous bulk tanker truck deliveries, thereby reducing insurance costs.
In addition, Caustic Soda freezes at a temperature of 52 degrees, rendering it useless for water treatment purposes, and creating additional hazards by increasing increased pressure at valves with the potential unexpected eruptions or spills. When it comes to safety, THIOGUARD and THIOGUARD ΩMEGA-S technical grade magnesium hydroxide is clearly superior.
Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is hazardous to use, detrimental to personnel safety and biological processes
Sodium addition to wastewater upsets flocculation, settling, clarification and dewatering processes, driving up needs for polymer or metal salt use.
MODERN UTILITY GOALS FOR ODOR AND CORROSION CONTROL, INCLUDE:
H2S Prevention and Control
Proven Corrosion Control (raise surface pH of corrodible surfaces)
Added value for plant BNR processes and solids treatment
Several iron, iron catalyst and peroxide treatments have emerged over the years, and all are designed to treat hydrogen sulfide that has already formed in the collection system. These treatments can be classified as:
Iron Sulfate or Iron Chloride treatment
Iron Compound added, and wastewater stream later treatedwith Hydrogen Peroxide
Iron Catalyst in combination with Hydrogen Peroxide
The purpose of this document is to illustrate the pitfalls, and hidden costs inherent in depending upon iron and hybrid iron, plus peroxide treatments. What may initially appear to be a cost effective treatment strategy will often result in increased costs and can increase corrosion.
Iron and other hybrid treatments often claim that they prevent corrosion by reducing sulfide gas, but only Thioguard can actually result in increased surface pH on pipes and other infrastructure, in addition to reducing hydrogen sulfide gas. Corrosion is a system-wide problem, requiring a system-wide solution. Thioguard Technical Grade Magnesium Hydroxide treatment is a proven, superior alternative, delivering added value throughout your operation.
The following is a quick comparison of Thioguard to three common classes of treatment:
IRON SALTS/IRON COMPOUNDS TREATMENT
When treating with iron salts, what happens to the alkalinity in the wastewater? One pound of iron salts consumes 1.75 lbs. of alkalinity. Every gallon of iron sulfate, upstream of the plant and in biological processes, can result in significant alkalinity replacement costs later on.
Does iron addition prevent corrosion? No, iron compounds are acidic in nature, and will cause or increase corrosion at your plant. In addition, using iron and proprietary catalysts requires eye wash installations and extensive PPE, one more “hidden cost” of using an outdated technology.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATMENT – A QUESTIONABLE CHOICE
50% hydrogen peroxide treatment depends on oxidizing the hydrogen sulfide, and the reaction is immediate. With this kind of immediate reaction, the result is limited longevity. Treatment must occur immediately before the hydrogen sulfide is released to the atmosphere in a wet well, and therefore may require multiple treatments along an extended line.
In addition, peroxide is extremely dangerous and is generally not considered for use in neighborhoods, medians and right of ways, playgrounds, schools or other sensitive areas. Leaks or tank ruptures can cause fires, property damage and danger to people. In fact, hydrogen peroxide has been used by terrorists as an oxidant for explosives!
HYBRID IRON, CATALYST AND PEROXIDE TREATMENTS – ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE OPTION
These treatments depend on Iron or a catalyst to achieve hydrogen sulfide complexation, followed by peroxide as a strong oxidant to oxidize the sulfide. Some catalyst treatments warn not to combine their product with hydrogen peroxide – due to the potential for an exothermic reaction. Why introduce this kind of a hazard, when it can be easily avoided?
In general, the iron treatments above do little or nothing to prevent corrosion in long sewer lines, and when used for odor control, they simply cannot compare to the long lasting power of Thioguard to deliver consistent, reliable system-wide performance.
In an acidic environment (pH=2), corrosion is rampant, tearing through 2″ of concrete in as little as 8 years. When effective surface pH=4, similar corrosion levels are pushed out to 50+ years.
Thioguard is the ONLY commonly used product that has a direct mechanism to PREVENT CORROSION by raising surface pH.Moreover, the benefits of adding THIOGUARD to your collection and treatment processes are not limited to the prevention or reduction of corrosion. You will also benefit from a reduction in the formation of sludge – significantly reducing your handling and transportation costs.
COMPARISON TO THIOGUARD CHEMISTRY
In contrast, Thioguard does nothing to lower the pH of the wastewater, produces no reaction products that can lead to additional sulfide production, and produces no sludge to settle out in the system or to be dewatered at the WWTP. The reaction is as follows:
The Magnesium binds the sulfide in a similar manner to iron and it will not be released unless the pH drops to 5.5 which is not normal In wastewater. More importantly, Thioguard is preventative and controls the formation of sulfide by increasing the pH and retarding the Sulfate Reducing Bacteria activity.
For a nearly one million gallon a day plant in Lambertville, NJ the good news just kept on coming. First, they started using Thioguard to condition their primary sludge to reduce odors from the plant. This worked so well, they began to ask, “Where else can Thioguard be applied?”
As the winds whipped in early Spring, it was discovered that a significant amount of odor was coming from the nearly quarter million gallon sludge holding tank at their site. Since Thioguard worked to reduce the primary sludge odors, they wondered if it would work for stored sludge waiting to be pressed.
After establishing a stable pH range of 7.5-8.0 s.u., with just a couple of gallons a day, odors were reduced to satisfactory levels… and then something very interesting happened. Not only were odors in the press building reduced, but the press cake was drier. On average nearly 20-40% drier.
Why? Thioguard is technical grade magnesium hydroxide: a buffered source of alkalinity that is used to increase pH. Elevated pH promotes better polymer performance. Not only that, but due to divalent cation bridging, the press supernatant quality can be clearer as well. Any remaining alkalinity is then returned in the supernatant to the headworks of the plant.
The Lambertville results were recently verified on a much larger scale through bench testing at a treatment plant in Newark, Ohio. The chart below illustrates expected typical annual cost savings in hauling and tipping after the addition of Thioguard at a 100 MGD plant. The bottom line? For every 1% improvement in cake solids, the plant would save approximately $214K in hauling and tipping costs. In multiple tests, the use of Thioguard consistently resulted in 5% to 13% improvement in cake solids with greatly reduced water weight. Drier cake solids means less to haul, and fewer loads translates directly into operational savings.
As we begin to emerge from the challenging times of this past year, it is inspiring to be reminded of the tremendous works of the leaders around us. On behalf of the Thioguard Team and the Premier Magnesia family, Congratulations to Mary Evans on being selected for the 2021 W. Walter Chiang Lifetime Achievement Award
The Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) recently announced Mary Evans as this year’s recipient of the W. Walter Chiang Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes a current or past WEAT member who has demonstrated continual and tireless contributions toward the improvement of the water environment throughout a long, distinguished career in the wastewater treatment industry and in WEAT/WEF.
Mary Evans has had a very distinguished career serving the wastewater industry, including serving for over 10 years as the South-Central Regional Account Manager for Premier Magnesia, LLC. She is an outstanding leader for the industry, serving as a local Section President, WEAT President, WEAT Delegate to the WEF HOD, and many, many years in participation and as a leader for the WEAT and WEF Challenge Laboratory events and on numerous committees that look out for the best interests of WEAT in this challenging environment.
Mary has also worked with numerous utility staff for many years to educate them on appropriate laboratory techniques, not only for the optimization of their plant processes, but also for their plant compliance issues and operator certification/licensing opportunities. There are scores of folks who will tell you that Mary’s support was an integral key to their success in obtaining and increasing their operator licenses. Mary has exemplified the goals and vision of WEAT throughout her life, and she is most deserving of this recognition.
The Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) is an open association of water environmental professionals, practitioners and operations specialists, and public officials with a broad range of expertise working together to foster members’ professional growth and development, educate the public on water quality issues, and benefit society through protection and enhancement of the water environment. For more information, visit https://www.weat.org.
THIOGUARD is a leading supplier of technical grade magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide to the wastewater treatment industry. Thioguard’s Total System Treatment is a non-hazardous application with no required reportable quantities, and is owned, mined and produced in the USA. Thioguard provides more alkalinity than any other additive, it is effective at treating odors, corrosion and FOG (fats, oils and grease), and also provides positive plant benefits for nitrification, biosolids production, digester performance, and chlorination. Thioguard is a division of Premier Magnesia, LLC. For more information, visit https://www.thioguard.com.
While Nitrates and Iron have been a common part of the odor control landscape in the past, the growing emphasis on nutrient treatment and resource recovery have made Thioguard technical grade magnesium hydroxide a more compelling and cost effective alternative. Calcium Nitrate products are typically used in many of the nation’s wastewater collection systems, and are used for one thing odor control. Unfortunately, there are multiple costly unintended consequences with the use of nitrate products. In addition, while nitrate use may temporarily address H2S odor problems, nitrate products are of little or no use in combatting corrosion, which is a tremendous problem, both in-plant and throughout every segment of wastewater treatment infrastructure.
NITRATE USE ENCOURAGES UNWANTED BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS… where you don’t want them to occur.
Think denitrification…which consumes organics, and produces nitrogen gas N2 and carbon dioxide CO2, all seemingly innocuous by-products of Calcium Nitrate’s intended use as an odor control technology…but let’s take a closer look…
Nitrates upset the Bio-P process at your plant The use of nitrates in the collection system alter the chemical and biological conditions of the collection system, which would otherwise facilitate the formation and transport of VFAs to the treatment plant, where they can be used by PAOs in Bio-P processes.
As VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids) are eliminated with calcium nitrate addition, VFAs are therefore not available for PAOs (phosphorus accumulating organisms) for phosphate removal at the wastewater treatment plant.
Nitrates contribute to the formation of F.O.G. The addition of nitrates contributes to the accumulation of an odorous film, often referred to as a F.O.G. (Fats, Oils and Grease) mat in pumping stations and at your plant. Blockages associated with F.O.G. have been shown to be the greatest contributors to O&M costs including energy consumption, maintenance costs, and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs).
Nitrates contribute to Gas Binding in the Collection System The transfer of wastewater can result in the release of gases such as O2 – Oxygen, CO2 – Carbon Dioxide, N2 – Nitrogen Gas, H2S – Hydrogen Sulfide, CH4 – Methane, VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds, and VOSCs – Volatile Organic Sulfur Compounds, among others. Some of these gases are drawn into the system through pumping and ventilation, while others are generated within the system either chemically or biologically. These gases can result in the development of gas binding in the system, and are dramatically exacerbated with the utilization of calcium nitrate.
Nitrates negatively impact conventional processes The addition of nitrates is not an exact science, and unfortunately, every step along the way there are costly unintended consequences. Add too little, and you’re facing odor problems. Add too much, and you’re faced with the formation of unwanted bubble-forming gases (N2 and CO2 from denitrification) in your settling tank, exactly where you DON’T WANT IT, continuing the formation of F.O.G. mat, (as well as creating an environment unfavorable to your biological processes). This often results in increased metal salts usage or increased polymer usage and associated increases in costs.
NITRATE ADDITION REQUIRES MULTIPLE FEED LOCATIONS, THIOGUARD ONLY REQUIRES ONE
Calcium Nitrate has a short half-life in sewers, and therefore many addition locations are required to achieve adequate system-wide control. This requires several addition locations, and corresponding higher costs and operational oversight. In contrast, a single Thioguard Feed Unit can often replace several nitrate feed stations, and maintain a relatively constant pH level throughout.
THIOGUARD HELPS PREVENT CORROSION
Maintaining a constant surface pH of 6-8 can reduce the rate of corrosion by as much as 100X. The cost of simply ignoring this problem is monumental and Thioguard is the only commonly used product that has a direct mechanism to increase surface pH and prevent corrosion.
Lime may appear initially to be an affordable way to increase required alkalinity at your plant. However, as with so many other purchase decisions, this “up front bargain” turns into added costs and aggravation down the road. Your plant will NEVER achieve sustained, controlled alkalinity through the addition of lime, or caustic soda for that matter. ONLY THIOGUARD and THIOGUARD ΩMEGA-S technical grade magnesium hydroxide provides an effective, system-wide, non-hazardous alternative to Lime. By converting to Thioguard, wastewater utilities are consistently able to eliminate hundreds of hazardous bulk tanker truck deliveries, thereby reducing insurance costs. And, when it comes to safety, technical grade magnesium hydroxide is 100% non-hazardous.
LIME (Ca(OH)2) IS A HIGHLY CORROSIVE, DANGEROUS CHEMICAL…
Lime is listed on the Special Health Hazard Substance List, and on contact, can burn the skin and the eyes, and can cause permanent lung damage through inhalation. The same properties that can cause these harmful effects in humans will cause similar negative effects in your treatment processes.
Lime (calcium hydroxide) is extremely hazardous to use, detrimental to personnel safety and creates “Kill Zones” in biological processes. Moreover, adding lime to wastewater upsets alkalinity supplementation, by converting soluble forms of alkalinity to insoluble forms. These potential “Kill Zones” are responsible for driving up costs significantly. The clear solution is to eliminate your “Kill Zones” entirely, by switching to Thioguard.
MORE ALKALINITY PER GALLON
Compared to Lime (or caustic soda), Thioguard is capable of supplying significantly more alkalinity in a bio-available form to a microbial wastewater system without adversely affecting pH. This creates a more suitable environment for bioremediation of BOD and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Because magnesium supplies a light-weight, divalent cation, unlike the monovalent sodium in caustic, and heavier calcium in lime, Thioguard generates a denser, more easily dewatered sludge, with a higher percentage of cake solids – without the “bulking” commonly associated with Lime.
Lime may appear initially to be an affordable way to increase required alkalinity at your plant. However, as with so many other purchase decisions, this “up front bargain” turns into added costs and aggravation down the road. Your plant will NEVER achieve sustained, controlled alkalinity through the addition of lime, or caustic soda for that matter. ONLY THIOGUARD and THIOGUARD ΩMEGA-S technical grade magnesium hydroxide provides an effective, system-wide, non-hazardous alternative to Lime. By converting to Thioguard, wastewater utilities are consistently able to eliminate hundreds of hazardous bulk tanker truck deliveries, thereby reducing insurance costs. And, when it comes to safety, technical grade magnesium hydroxide is 100% non-hazardous.
LIME (Ca(OH)2) IS A HIGHLY CORROSIVE, DANGEROUS CHEMICAL…
Lime is listed on the Special Health Hazard Substance List, and on contact, can burn the skin and the eyes, and can cause permanent lung damage through inhalation. The same properties that can cause these harmful effects in humans will cause similar negative effects in your treatment processes.
Lime (calcium hydroxide) is extremely hazardous to use, detrimental to personnel safety and creates “Kill Zones” in biological processes. Moreover, adding lime to wastewater upsets alkalinity supplementation, by converting soluble forms of alkalinity to insoluble forms. These potential “Kill Zones” are responsible for driving up costs significantly. The clear solution is to eliminate your “Kill Zones” entirely, by switching to Thioguard.
MORE ALKALINITY PER GALLON
Compared to Lime (or caustic soda), Thioguard is capable of supplying significantly more alkalinity in a bio-available form to a microbial wastewater system without adversely affecting pH. This creates a more suitable environment for bioremediation of BOD and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Because magnesium supplies a light-weight, divalent cation, unlike the monovalent sodium in caustic, and heavier calcium in lime, Thioguard generates a denser, more easily dewatered sludge, with a higher percentage of cake solids – without the “bulking” commonly associated with Lime.
CAUSTIC SODA IS A HIGHLY CORROSIVE CHEMICAL… Caustic Soda is listed on the Special Health Hazard Substance List, and on contact, can burn the skin and the eyes, and can cause permanent lung damage through inhalation. The same properties that can cause these harmful effects in humans are causing similar negative effects in your treatment processes.
Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is hazardous to use, detrimental to personnel safety and biological processes. Moreover, adding sodium to wastewater upsets flocculation, settling, clarification and dewatering processes, driving up the need for polymer or metal salt use. All of these potential “Kill Zones” are responsible for driving up costs. The clear solution is to eliminate your “Kill Zones” entirely, by switching to Thioguard.
THIOGUARD and THIOGUARD ΩMEGA-S technical grade magnesium hydroxide is an effective, non-hazardous alternative to Caustic Soda. By converting to Thioguard, wastewater utilities are able to eliminate hundreds of hazardous bulk tanker truck deliveries, thereby reducing insurance costs. When it comes to safety, technical grade magnesium hydroxide is clearly superior.
MORE ALKALINITY PER GALLON
Compared to Caustic Soda (or lime), Thioguard is capable of supplying significantly more alkalinity in a bio-available form to a microbial wastewater system without adversely affecting pH. This creates a more suitable environment for bioremediation of BOD and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Because magnesium supplies a light-weight, divalent cation, unlike the monovalent sodium in caustic, and heavier calcium in lime, Thioguard generates a denser, more easily dewatered sludge, with a higher percentage of cake solids.
For a nearly one million gallon a day plant in Lambertville, NJ the good news just kept on coming. First, they started using Thioguard to condition their primary sludge to reduce odors from the plant. This worked so well, they began to ask, “Where else can Thioguard be applied?”
