Afrizymes is a leading manufacturer and supplier of enzymes for wastewater treatment plants. Waste water and sewage treatment is an important public service in South Africa. Wastewater and sewage treatment plants consume large amounts of chemicals and energy each year and therefore have excellent conservation potential with more efficient treatment methods. The use of chemicals and energy in wastewater and sewage treatment will definitely increase in the future due to growth in population, more stringent environmental regulations and high demand for the reuse of wastewater and sewage. Sludge handling is the number one problem in most waste treatment plants. What enters the plant has to exit the plant and some time and some place. The more sludge removed, the greater the expense in hauling and disposal. These costs vary from tens of thousands of Rands in small plants, to hundreds of thousands or even several million Rands in large facilities. Odour is also a huge problem in sewage plants, dams and water treatment plants which can be easily and cost effectively reduced by a very large factor.

Such large expenditures are not likely to decrease because of expanding population, fewer approved disposal sites, inflation, increased use of chemicals which add to sludge volume, and ever tighter growing regulations. Sewer Gobbler™ is the solution to reducing these costs and solving the problem. The usual approach has been to add plant capacity with larger tanks, more air, etc., and to a degree this is sometimes necessary. This is extremely costly and involves large capital expenditures with a resulting increase in sludge handling and expenses. It is important to note that the physical aspects of a waste water plant do not digest the waste. It is the enzymes produced by microorganisms and microbes.

The best point of attack is to reduce the volume of solids thereby effecting an immediate saving in hauling costs. This is done by bio-augmentation of the existing microorganisms through addition of biologically active seed cultures on a regular preventive maintenance schedule. Bio-augmentation means helping mother nature do a better job microbiologically rather than from continued use of chemical additives. Just like an aspirin that relieves some cold symptoms, but does not cure the cold, chemical additives temporarily relieve the symptoms of poor digestion, but do not cure the problem. So what exactly are biologically active seed cultures?

There are many methods to treat wastewater and sewage from the use of bacteria, enzymes and chemicals. The most common processes of wastewater and sewage treatment involves screening and clarification to remove solids, aerobic, suspended growth, activated sludge, reduction of organic pollutants and chlorine disinfection to minimize pathogens. Although energy use in aerated lagoons and trickling filters and are more efficient than other processes, they present many drawbacks as well. Many waste water and sewerage treatment plants are shifting from chemical based disinfection to microbiological and microbe disinfection to eliminate the dangers of storage and handling of toxic chemicals. Wastewater and sewage flow rates, concentration of solids and contaminants, type of treatment process, government standards and regulations of effluent discharge, disinfection methods and other factors vary greatly from place to place and plant to plant. Integrating new processes to existing treatment facilities is difficult and can be very costly. Microbiological disinfection methods provide minimum plant design and equipment alterations and has proven to produce favorable results and is cost effective.

A proprietary blend of specially selected naturally occurring microbial strains which produce high concentrations of digestive enzymes when introduced into wastewater and sewer environments.

Introduction:

Biologically active cultures:

Biologically active seed cultures are microbial strains of naturally occurring microorganisms that have been isolated and trained to produce large amounts of digestive enzymes when introduced into a waste system. The special strains in Sewer Gobbler™ are engineered to be thousands of times more active than those found in nature. This is the reason why proper microbial strains in a product are so important. They must be the right numbers of the proper kinds. Our bacteria are derived from South African soil, and are therefore metabolize much faster and reproduce at far superior rates. Every bacterium in Sewer Gobbler™ is a miniature powerhouse enzyme factory which produces enzymes 24 hours a day. It is the main thrust of biologically active seed cultures. Regular enzyme and bacteria dosing ensures dominance over naturally occurring less active bacteria for the ultimate results.

Features of Product:

• “With direct addition to aerobic digester: faster supernate and reduction in solids
• With addition to sludge going to the anaerobic digester: increased gas production and reduction in solids
• With addition after primary settling: the above benefits plus better digestion as evidence by reduced odors, grease, B.O.D. (biochemical oxygen demands) and solids
• With addition to the collection system: all of the above benefits

Application Rates:

The product is added at a dosage rate of 1 to 5 L per mega litre per day depending on the load into the sewage plant. The product can be added to any aerobic or facultative zones of the sewage treatment process to augment the biological activity of the natural treatment process. The product should ideally be continuously dosed at the recommended rate and preferably added at the inlet point to the sewage treatment plant.

PROOF: A Small Scale Demo

Explained is a small scale test method to prove the incredible effectiveness of Sewer Gobbler™. Please contact us for a free sample if you would like to try the below method yourself.

A sequential batch bench scale sludge reduction method with Sewer Gobbler™:

OBJECTIVE:

To demonstrate and compare solids reduction obtained through Sewer Gobbler™ bio-augumentation with that obtained naturally on an identical sample over the same time period.

A bench scale treatability method has been developed by which the following can be determined without the time and expense of actual plant treatment:

1. Treatability of the particular waste.
2. The best product for the particular waste.
3. Maximum sludge reduction.
4. he least expensive application schedule.

METHOD:

1. Obtain a 25L sample of mixed liquor from the aeration basin (2000-4000 ppm total solids). Run 60 minute settlometer test and record results.
2. Thoroughly mix the remaining sample and split evenly between the two chambers of the test tank. The test can be done in two side-by-side 20L plastic containers, two 20L. fish tanks or in a 40L fish tank with a partition in the middle. Each chamber should have a working volume of 12L to 13L. Aerate each container or chamber with a airstone or something similar fed by an air compressor or by the lab air supply to maintain a minimum 2.0-2.5 mg./L dissolved oxygen (D.O.). Both chambers must have the same D.O. However, because of increased digestion in the treated chamber, more air may be required to maintain the same D.O. as in the untreated chamber. Keep both chambers at ambient temperature (22°C – 26°C for the duration of the treatability study.
3. Put 1.0-1.5 grams (approx. 1 teaspoon) of Sewer Gobbler™ directly into one chamber or container and label this treated and record as time zero. Cover both chambers to retard evaporation.
4. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, remove one litre from each container and run 60 minute settlometer test.
5. After each settlometer determination, discard the litre, replace with one litre of fresh material and add another 1 teaspoon of Sewer Gobbler™ to the treated container.

Settling will be faster after 72 hours and the 60 minute volume of solids will be at least 25% less in the Sewer Gobbler™ treatment.

If so desired, other standard waste water parameters can be determined for the samples and the time of the testing can be extended to include longer periods.

PRECAUTIONS:

Care must be taken not to contaminate the untreated container or sample with material from the treated batch or sample. Use separate settlometers if possible. Make sure each container is thoroughly mixed before removing samples.

TABULATION:

Chart settleability at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours to determine solids reduction attributable to Sewer Gobbler™ vs. the control.