Microcat-SR Reduces Sludge Concentrations in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

QM Environmental Services is the European distributor for MicroCat® products from Bioscience Inc.
One of the products offered by QM is MicroCat®-SR which is a microbial formulation aimed at reducing biological sludge production in wastewater treatment plants. Sludge processing and discharge form a considerable cost for wastewater treatment plants and a reduction in sludge amounts can result in considerable savings. At one particular site in the United States MicroCat®-SR was successfully applied to reduce sludge levels.

This municipal wastewater treatment plant receives besides domestic and commercial sewage, effluent from food industry which is high in sugar content. The treatment plant consists out of a primary treatment with screening, grit and grease trap and primary clarifier, a secondary treatment consisting out of an aerated activated sludge tank and secondary clarifier. The sludge from the activated sludge tank is dewatered and transported off site. Sludge wasting occurs for 40 hours per week and the secondary clarifier exhibits regular performance problems.

The sludge processing and discharge costs consume almost 50% of the total budget of the treatment plant. A pilot with MicroCat®-SR and MicroCat®-TM was conducted to see if a reduction of these costs was possible. MicroCat®-SR is a microbial formula in which the microbes rather convert the organics in the sewage to carbon dioxide (CO2) than to more biomass. MicroCat®-TM is a micronutrient blend which stimulates and optimizes the performance of microbes in the treatment plant.

A 60 day dosing program of MicroCat®-SR and TM was performed to change the composition of the biomass in the treatment plant in such a way that it would convert more of the organics into carbon dioxide. Dosing is based on wastewater flow, dimensions of the treatment plant equipment, hydraulic residence times and other considerations. Both products were dosed on a daily basis directly into the aeration tank of the treatment plant.

After the 60 day dosing program the following results were obtained:
• MLSS concentrations reduced from 4000 mg/l to 2400 mg/l
• MLVSS/MLSS ratio increased from 55% to 85%
• Sludge wasting was reduced by 16 hours from 40 hours to 24 hours per week
• No performance disruptions of the secondary clarifier

As a consequence of the treatment with MicroCat®-SR and MicroCat®-TM the sludge processing and discharge costs were reduced by approximately 40%. This resulted in an overall saving of 20% on the total budget of the treatment plant. The management of the treatment plant decided to continue dosing MicroCat®-SR and MicroCat®-TM as maintenance in order to maintain these results. Without any major capital investments in new treatment systems this treatment plant realized a dramatic reduction of their operational costs for the treatment plant by using MicroCat® products.

For more information about MICROCAT®-SR and TM contact us.