Foam Buster – For Foaming Filaments

Foam Buster Case Studies

Nocardia Foam

Challenge

A wastewater treatment plant on the south side of Chicago had an extensive foaming issue caused by the Nocardia filament.  All the aeration basins were completely covered, and the foam even found it’s way into the center walls of the clarifier.

1.1 MGD Activated Sludge Municipal Treatment Plant Incoming BOD: 140-160 ppm Incoming Ammonia: 15-20 ppm ; with random spikes up to 60 ppm

In addition to the foaming, the plant received exceptionally high spikes of ammonia during the weekends.  These spikes would reach up to 60 ppm.

Solution

The operators began applying Foam Buster and Qwik-Zyme L to improve the cold weather degradation of surfactants, grease, and long-chain fatty acids, all which are nutrients for Nocardia.

Results

By the 30th day of the application, the foam cleared up to 75%.  The operators continued a maintenance application to fully clear the plant.  By fully degrading the grease and fatty acids, more ammonia and nitrogen was consumed, thus stabilizing the weekend ammonia spikes.

Another Piece to the Puzzle

This plant’s operator got a tip from a nearby neighbor about suspicious activity, after putting two and two together the operator notified the authorities.  It turns out, in this nice community, a resident was producing methamphetamine.  As soon as this meth lab was shut down, the wastewater plant stop receiving ammonia spikes.  Aquafix is able to help out with spikes, but the production of methamphetamine will send very high amounts of ammonia and other chemicals to your plant.  It is unfortunate, but highly important to keep a watchful eye.

Oxidation Ditch

Challenge

A wastewater plant in Western Pennsylvania has a flow rate of 3 million gallons per day. During the winter months they routinely encounter problems with foam.

Solution

March 1, 2011 they began adding 20 lb. of Foam Buster per day.

Results

3 weeks later: The foam was gone and the temperature of the aeration basins was 75°F.

SBR

Challenge

A customer in central Alabama has a SBR system that was having an ongoing issue with Microthrix Parvicella. It was causing bad foaming, poor settling, and a cloudy effluent. This plant was out of compliance and needed immediate help. Their flow rate was 100,000 GPD.

Solution

They added 10 lbs. of Foam Buster and 1 quart of Qwik-Zyme L per day for 7 days.

Results

7 days later: Grease was cut in half and settling had improved. 21 days later: The foam was gone and the plant was in compliance with the super tight limits.

Brewery

Challenge

A brewery had a yeast outbreak and it caused bad foaming, poor settling, and bad effluent. The problem persisted for a couple of months until they called us.

Solution

Add 2# – 3# Foam Buster to help with the foam and add 1 gallon of Qwik-Zyme P to improve settling.

Results

After experimenting with the dosage rate we were able to come up with the perfect solution. Just one day after adding Qwik-Zyme P the plant settled perfectly and the customer was ecstatic.