–PCS Nitrogen – BP Chemicals has received a Return on Environment® (ROE) Partnership Award from GE Betz for improving wastewater quality at its plant manufacturing nitrogen-based products by reducing ammonia levels through an environmentally friendly bioaugmentation program.
Through an operating agreement with PCS Nitrogen Ohio, L.P., BP Chemicals employees operate the nitrogen facilities located in Lima, Ohio. The new treatment program, which enabled the plant to achieve results much lower than seasonal permit limits for the discharge of ammonia, also saved $65,000 in operating costs.
The ROE Award is presented worldwide to a select group of industrial, commercial and institutional establishments whose strong working relationship with GE Betz has resulted in significant environmental, health and safety benefits while at the same time reducing operating costs.
Some ammonia is always present in the wastewater at this plant making nitrogen-based fertilizer products. The plant has a seasonal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limit on ammonia levels that reduces them by 50% from May through October.
GE Betz recommended treating the effluent by bioaugmentation with four proprietary products. The bacterial cultures were added to two 30,000-gallon (114 m3) tanks with 6,320 cubic feet of packing which were converted to 250 gpm trickling filters.
Following the initiation of treatment, outfall ammonia levels were reduced from 10.7 ppm to 5.7 ppm, while the daily maximum level was reduced from 22.6 ppm to 12.7 ppm. The 47% reduction removed an average of 115 pounds (52 kg) per day of ammonia from the effluent, meeting the lower discharge limitations and providing net annual savings from lower chemical usage and the avoidance of potential penalties totaling $65,000.
The ROE Award, a hand-crafted Irish crystal globe depicting the earth enclosing a chemical flask, was presented to Don Johnson, PCS General Manager, and Chuck Treloar, Lima plant manager of BP Chemicals.
Contact:
Bob Palangio
