Acidic wastewater treatment is essential for Industrial treatment processes as they can produce acidic wastewater streams, which must be neutralised before discharge to meet pH, metal and other trade effluent discharge consents. OMEX supply the Magmex range of products for acidic wastewater treatment, a safe and easy to regulate alternative to the more traditional hazardous products such as caustic soda.
What is Magmex?
Magmex is a range of Magnesium Hydroxide suspensions used for acidic wastewater treatment, the control of pH levels and addition of alkalinity within both anaerobic and aerobic systems. The range can be made available in both bulk and IBC containers.
The products included in the Magmex range are Magmex 1060, Magmex 706 and Magmex 740.
Why treat wastewater using Magmex?
Traditionally, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and calcium hydroxide (lime) have been used to neutralise acidic wastewater. However, these compounds can cause high pH levels if not controlled correctly, which can lead to the high consumption of the neutraliser. The Magmex range is the environmentally friendly answer for acidic wastewater treatment. It is safe, easy-to-use and overcomes the majority of problems associated with the traditional neutralisers. In addition, and in certain applications, it can be used as a means of odour and/or septicity control by binding hydrogen sulphide immediately during formation.
When to use Magmex
Magmex is an excellent choice for an environmentally-friendly treatment solution for acidic wastewater to balance and control pH levels of both anaerobic and aerobic systems. In the case of pH control applications, Magmex can be used as neutralizer to increase the pH levels to the neutral or the alkaline ranges. In the latter case, Magmex has also been proven to be a successful media for phosphorus removal. In aerobic wastewater treatment plants ro activated sludge processes, Magmex can be an effective media to add alkalinity and hence successfully control that parameter through the system to achieve optimum results at the point of discharge. Similarly, in anaerobic applications dosing small quantities of Magmex will aid with the process alkalinity, hence helping to achieve optimisation of the process via better control of the ratio between volatile fatty acids and total alkalinity (VFA/TA or FOS/TAC).
How does Magmex benefit acidic wastewater?
Magmex helps improve the process by reducing sludge volumes, improving flocculation and naturally buffering at the lower end of the alkalinity scale meaning biological plants are safe from overdose. Due to the physical and the chemical properties of the high solid strength suspensions, Magmex offers pH neutralisation reactions that are easy to control and alkalinity that is carried over within the system. This means that product consumption can be controlled accurately, hence providing an upstream saving compared to other methods
This will also apply in a more effective and cost-effective way in cases where a coagulation step precedes the application of Magmex, i.e. the upstream use of an inorganic salt like and iron- or aluminum salt.
Downstream from the neutralisation step, the hydrophobic properties of Magmex will allow for a sludge formation that is richer in solids and much lower in moisture, hence producing sludges that are easier to dewater using traditional solid-liquid separation methods like gravity clarification, cake pressing or centrifuging. This in turn can result to lower solids waste disposal costs due to the minimization of the solids disposal frequency.
At the same time, in some applications it has also been observed that there will be a downstream saving in the consumption of a polymer product for flocculation, when such a step precedes the solid-liquid separation process. In biological processes, Magmex is fully compatible with the biology as magnesium is an element that is preferred by the biocultures in comparison to sodium or calcium, which in high quantities can cause toxicity.
Magmex tends to form light salts, which can be carried in the system flow and hence minimise risks of pipe lining and inherent blockages.
How can OMEX support further?
The sites using Magmex can benefit from a range of support products and services through OMEX. For troubleshooting or advising a site on how to get the best out of the product application, OMEX can run process simulation trials and analyses in our in-house laboratories. This work will yield a report showing indicative upstream and downstream savings presenting a way for the product to be trialed or implemented.
OMEX can also provide the components for small or large-scale field trials. In the cases where the product is implemented when switching from caustic soda or lime, OMEX can help with providing assistance in retrofitting existing tanks and processes.
Alternatively, OMEX can design and provide a custom dosing system to fit the application, footprint and other relevant site requirements. Once the product is implemented on a site, OMEX can support further in optimizing the implementation process and aiding in achieving the optimum upstream, downstream savings and process performance.
