CHP

ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS & BIO-GAS GENERATORS

Cobra EM-1® waste treatment has a unique ability to stabilize complex proteins through a shift from anaerobic putrefaction cycles to a fermentative one.

Hair and plastics can play havoc with the balancing of an anaerobic digester by creating over-thickening of the scum layer. Hair is primarily composed of complex proteins, which have been historically difficult to stabilize to a point at which the biological breakdown will occur in a timely manner. Cobra EM-1® waste treatment will assist by accelerating protein stabilization.

When free Ammonia is bound to carbon and H2S is removed from influent during generation, “sweet” methane can be produced in the biogas generator, thereby increasing amounts of clean methane gas by 30% or more. Others benefits with the removal/lowering of free Ammonia and the H2S are reduction in odour control expenses by elimination or reduction of chemicals, less wear and tear on equipment, elimination of corrosion, and greater efficiency of wastewater treatment due to a dramatically increased digestion of sludge.

A significant drop in the quantity and density of sludge will also result in as much as 50% reduction of polymer use.


SLUDGE DIGESTION

An average of 40% of sludge, by weight, added to a digestion system is non-degradable; some of this sludge is derived from plastic particles. Plastics derived from vegetable-based oils may be broken down biologically, but require much longer time than most facilities or equipment allow. The remainder of the sludge is made of organic matter which is food for microbes, like those in Cobra EM-1®. With effective micro-organisms as part of the treatment cycle, one can achieve a greater amount of breakdown in a shorter amount of time. The use of effective micro-organisms technology in the collection system will encourage a dramatic growth of beneficial micro-organisms, including sludge worms that will break down solids. The average sludge reduction achieved with consistent Cobra EM-1® application is about 33%.


EFFECTS ON SUSPENDED SOLIDS

The goal of the operator is to get as many solids out of the wastewater in as short a time as possible.
Polymers are often used to thicken wastewater to pull solids out of suspension and bring them to the bottom so they can be removed. Cobra EM-1® works like a natural polymer, pulling items out of suspension. A wastewater system can expect an average of 50% reduction in polymer use when they use Cobra EM-1®. Total suspended solids will drop by as much as 80% as well, causing better flocculation, improving water clarity in the clarifiers. These are some of the ways that Cobra EM-1® use increases the capacity and efficiency of the system.


CORROSION CONTROL
Prevention of Rust

One of the most damaging effects on equipment is rusting. Rust is an oxidation reaction. Moisture on metal is not a good thing when there are oxidizing agents around. Almost any cleaner used today is an oxidizer. Ammonia and bleach will oxidize metals, causing rusted equipment, thereby increasing operations costs over time.

Antioxidants reverse oxidation (that is what the “anti” means). Antioxidants are chelated minerals and vitamins. Cobra EM-1® is fermented with cane molasses. Cane molasses have roughly 40 different trace materials. The microbes in Cobra EM-1® will synthesize various bio-available vitamin compounds (including B complex and Vitamin A) and enzymes during the fermentation process. Therefore, Cobra EM-1® Waste Treatment is known to reverse putrefaction and oxidation through secreted by-products, namely, antioxidants. Antioxidants help with pH balance and are known for preventing and even reversing corrosion.


Prevention of Crowning

The pH balance also contributes to prevention of H2S combining with water vapour and forming H2SO4, the main cause of crowning in sewer lines. Thiobacillus bacteria are the same bacteria that are used in strip mining to produce the acid wash. These bacteria are found everywhere on earth, but they need a certain pH, water, and sulphur to form sulphuric acid. The wastewater vapours in sewer lines provide the perfect environment for sulphuric acid production.

The microbes in Cobra EM-1® not only release O2 during their respiration which raises the pH, they also ingest a tremendous amount of sulphur, therefore removing it from the waste stream.

Rising corrosive gases in lift stations can be dealt with through several types of applications and targeted activation with Cobra EM-1® waste treatment, thereby preventing corrosion from outset. With repeated applications of Cobra EM-1® waste treatment to lift-station’s pumps, housing, and concrete, corrosion and rusting can actually be reversed.

In wastewater, antioxidants have a scavenging effect in the treatment system, pulling compounds out of suspension by combining with salts, thus causing a crystallization formation into a benign salt. By preventing various salts and mineral formation build up, the pipes will be polished without the need for mechanical cleaning. This all equals saving the municipality and the taxpayers money.