Why is alkalinity important in wastewater treatment




















Do you have questions about Neo's wastewater treatment solution? Our team is always happy to answer questions about your unique challenges. Enjoy our articles about our products and how we serve the industry, as well as additional information on the industry and the communities we serve.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. It ranges from 1 to 14 with 7 considered neutral. The pH scale is logarithmic which means that every integer change results in a 10x higher acid or base concentration. Example; pH 6 is 10 times more acidic than pH 7 and pH 4 is 1, times more acidic than 7. Alkalinity — Alkalinity is the ability of a solution to resist pH changes when an acid is added. The acid molecules react with the alkalinity which results in the acid molecules being neutralized, therefor when adding acid to a solution with alkalinity, the pH stays constant until the alkalinity is consumed.

This is the reason adding acidic water treatment chemicals consumes alkalinity. In municipal and industrial wastewater there are many factors which contribute to alkalinity. Factors which contribute to alkalinity include the type of dissolved inorganic and organic compounds present in the water, the amount of suspended organic matter in the water, and the amount of bicarbonate in the water. A lower pH acid is simply a higher concentration of protons in solution.

If the operator does not take corrective action, the digester may become sour and stop working completely. In fact, if the operator did not pay attention to alkalinity and used pH as the sole operating process control parameter, the digester could become sour before the pH finally indicated an operating problem.

If the alkalinity present in the influent is not sufficient, or if there is a need to increase alkalinity in the treatment plant, chemical addition can help correct the deficiency. Common chemicals used to increase alkalinity and pH include:. Sodium hypochlorite bleach and calcium hypochlorite granular chlorine will raise the liquid pH and alkalinity while performing as disinfectants.

Care must be taken when using these chemicals, not only because of their very high pH and corrosive effects, but also because of the dangerous chemical reactions that occur when they are added to low-pH liquids and biosolids. Always handle chemicals with caution; read and follow the recommendations found on the MSDS documents and labels.

In summary, alkalinity can be a useful process control tool. Keeping an eye on the alkalinity coming into the treatment plant, through the various unit processes and in plant effluent can provide clues to biological and chemical changes, sometimes helping prevent process upsets.

Remember that pH and alkalinity are not the same thing — they are measurements of two distinct and separate chemical conditions. He can be reached at rtrygar treeo. Sign Me Up! Join your colleagues who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free!

An operator uses a portable pH meter Oakton pHTestr 30 , buret and magnetic stir plate to titrate a sample to pH 4. Interested in Laboratory? Get Laboratory articles, news and videos right in your inbox!

Sign up now. Popular Stories. Visit the MT series product page for more information. Handbook of Environmental Analysis: 4 th Edition. Genium Publishing, New York, pg Exploring the Environment: Water Quality. Wheeling Jesuit University. The Link Between Alkalinity and Wastewater Operations Alkalinity is a common water analysis parameter described as the acid-neutralizing and pH buffering capacity of a solution.



0コメント

  • 1000 / 1000