Product

Applicatio
n

Manual

Microbe-Lift IND

Ecological Laboratories
Inc.

Product Application Manual

Manufactured by:

Distributed by:

PT. DENTA MAS MULIA

What is MicrobeLift-IND?
MicrobeLift-IND is a combination of various species of live bacteria suspended in a liquid
medium and used for the treatment of industrial, agricultural and residential organically
contaminated wastewater.

The bacterial culture contains aerobic species (those that require oxygen) and anaerobic
species (those that do not require oxygen). The micro-organisms in MicrobeLift-IND are not
toxic nor pathogenic. They are live bacteria in a liquid medium that is non-offensive to
humans, animals, plants and all types of aqua culture. MicrobeLift-IND is made up of various
types of bacterial species that have been cultivated for compatibility, reproduction and
growth to an adult state. After incubation and when reproduction is complete, the bacteria
return to an inactive state and remain dormant for long periods of time.

When MicrobeLift-IND is added to a contaminated area, the bacteria immediately revive

themselves and begin to feed, reproduce and attack that organic waste in the water.

The bacteria in MicrobeLift-IND are live micro-organisms that should be added directly to
the waste water in a periodic manner. A regular, consistent application should be
maintained in order to obtain a high-micro-organism population which will insure high
feeding requirements and high levels of reproduction (which means high consumption of
organic solids and grease in spectic tank and lagoon environments). In this way, a high
level absorption of contaminants can be achieved and maintained.

How Does MicrobeLift-IND Work?

MicrobeLift-IND reduces the concentration of hydrogen sulfate, a sure sign of water
contamination. The hydrogen sulfate is a poisonous gas with an offensive odor
(associated with untreated waters in lagoons and septic tanks).

During the oxidation process of the hydrogen sulfate, a reaction occurs which converts it
to elemental sulfur and then copper sulfate. MicrobeLift-IND also reduces the BOD
(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) as well as the
levels of suspended solids which are indicative of concentrated contamination. Hydrogen
sulfate is the most common indication of contamination, producing harsh odors which
emanate from treatment plants, lagoons and septic tanks.

When MicrobeLift-IND is applied to septic tanks and/or grease traps, their efficiency of
operation is greatly improved which will either eliminate or drastically reduce the need for
expensive cleaning and pumping procedures.

MicrobeLift-IND Guarantees the Following Results

and Characteristics:

Drastically reduces insect growth and other domestic pests.

Drastically reduces offensive odors associated with untreated waste waters.

Maintains drains and drainage equipment free from buildup and clogging.

Completely dissolves organic solids which makes pumping quicker and more efficient.

Non-toxic to humans, plants, marine life and the natural environment in general.

Product is completely natural, made up of bacteria and live micro-organisms.

Helps the environment and improves overall health.

Has a shelf life of min. 5 years.

Easy to use.

The bacteria predominantly remain in an adult state which gives MicrobeLift-IND its
ability to quickly adapt to different environments. The combination of these diverse
components in MicrobeLift-IND gives it the flexibility to treat highly complex organic
components in different systems utilizing aerobic and anaerobic applications.
MicrobeLift-IND has been very successful in the treatment of phenolic waste with large
concentrations of oils and fats and extremely offensive odors.

Augmentation Chemistry vs.

Stoichiometric Chemistry

Many engineers and operators are accustomed to having precise application information when
using chemical products in chemical process systems. This is usually not the case with biological
systems and biological products like MicrobeLift-IND.

The reason for this is quite simple. Chemicals are non-living things and act in predictable
stoichiometric ratios based on molecule for molecule interactions. A good example is pH which is the
measure of [H+] ions or [OH-] radicals in solution. To neutralize a solution which is either too acidic or
too alkaline requires the addition of the reciprocal ions or radicals which combine in a direct one to
one ratio to form water. For example, if a solution of hydrochloric acid, HCl, is added to an alkaline
solution of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, the [H+] ions and [OH-] radicals will react to form water with the
residual ions to form salt (NaCl) in a predictable, quantifiable reaction.

In biological systems, the dynamics are biochemical as opposed to chemical, and the active
agents are living entities. Where one would have to increase the quantity of chemical
proportionally to deal with a higher load of reactant, in a biological system the biological additive
can grow to help compensate for increased loadings. While small increases in dosage may be
required with increased loading, proportional increases are not required. The organisms in
MicrobeLift-IND grow in response to higher loads, so that the benefit is multiplied which makes
biological additives much more cost effective than chemical additives. It also makes for dosage
programs that do not seem to properly compensate for loading changes, as MicrobeLift-IND has
an inherent ability to adjust to loading changes.

Bio-augmentation dosage programs typically follow a descending application schedule to

accommodate the fact that the benefits of the addition are multiplied. These programs usually involve
a "purge" or "inoculation" dosage to establish the required MicrobeLift-IND population quickly.

The "purge" or "inoculation" is followed by an intermediate maintenance dosage to support the

development of the required population. Finally, a regular maintenance addition is used to
maintain the required population to maintain the biochemical improvements which have been
realized through the "inoculum" and "intermediate maintenance" dosages.

On occasion, when a biological system experiences shock loads, either hydraulic or organic, it
may be necessary to return to the "intermediate maintenance" dosages for a week or two to
fortify and stabilize the MicrobeLift-IND population.

This manual contains a comprehensive program of application schedules for every application of
MicrobeLift-IND: grease traps, septic tanks and industrial biological wastewater treatment
systems. While they vary in size and level of technology, they are all biological systems that can
benefit from the unique ecosystem in MicrobeLift-IND.

Economics of MicrobeLift-IND

Many potential users compare the cost per gallon of MicrobeLift-IND to other liquid and
dry bacterial preparations on the market. While MicrobeLift-IND appears to be more
expensive on a unit basis, it is usually 40% less expensive on an application basis.

For reference, the following table is a comparison of dosage rates in a normal 1-MGD
system as recommended by the leading producers of dry cultures.

The price of MicrobeLift-IND is usually about 2x that of the dry powders, yet the use on a
per unit basis is 1/6 of the pound usage. The MicrobeLift-IND Program is approximately half
the cost of the leading dry products program. Additionally, there is no time wasted in prehydration of the product, so the labor cost for MicrobeLift-IND is lower.

Company #1

Company #2

MicrobeLift-IND

Day 1 and 2

25 lbs.

25 lbs.

10 gallons (Day 1

Innoculation/purge

only)

Days 3 7

10 lbs./day

10 lbs./day

4 gal./wk until week

Maintenance

2 lbs./day

2 lbs./day

2 gal./wk

st

Total for 1 90 days

263 lbs.

263 lbs.

42 gal.

Grease Traps

Grease Traps are basically holding tanks with baffles which allow oil & grease in a
usually warm or hot liquid waste stream to cool off, coalesce and float to the surface of
the trap where the baffle keeps it from exiting the system. In this way, the grease trap
reduces the organic load going to the sewer system and results in the generation of a
high organic solid waste.

The grease trap requires regular pumping to remove the floating oil and grease for disposal
before the grease layer becomes thick enough to circumvent the baffle and exit the grease
trap. MicrobeLift-IND provides a means of stimulating the biological activity in the grease trap
to digest the floating grease at the float/water interface. This continually reduces the amount
of grease requiring removal, the organic load to the sewer and the frequency of required
pumping. Unlike most chemical additives which solubilize the oil and grease through the
generation of heat or use of surfactants which merely solubilize the waste, MicrobeLift-IND
digests the waste. This prevents blockages and increased organic loads to the municipal
wastewater treatment plant which would defeat the purpose of the grease trap. The
MicrobeLift-IND will continue to work in the sewer lines as it travels downstream.

After a period of regular inoculation, the MicrobeLift-IND bacteria will begin to populate
the inside walls of the grease trap and add to the biological activity of the grease trap.

MicrobeLift-IND provides liquid waste haulers with an ideal program for maintaining grease
traps at a lower cost with less residuals for disposal and no loss in revenue. Revenues lost
by less frequent pumpouts are recovered through charges for the MicrobeLift-IND addition
which takes less time for the service man and can be provided with a van. This significantly
increases the number of clients that can be serviced with a given fleet of pumper trucks.

For grease trap maintenance, MicrobeLift-IND is added according to the following schedule:

Initial Application

Maintenance

For Tanks under

1,500 Gallons

One (1) gallon

One (1)quart every 4

weeks

For tanks over

1,500 gallons

Two (2) gallons

Two (2) quarts every 4

weeks

Septic Systems

Septic systems are on-site waste treatment systems for households and facilities that do
not have access to a public sewer system. Cesspools serve a similar function but are
simpler in design and usually less efficient.

Septic systems consist of a septic tank, a distribution box and a leach field. In areas of
poor percolation, a sand mound may be used to increase the amount of evaporation
from the system. Waste flows into the septic tank where solids settle to the bottom of the
tank and begin to digest to soluble organics and inert material. Soluble organics in
solution are degraded by a combination of aerobic, microaerophilic, facultative
anaerobic, anaerobic micro-organisms and primarily bacteria. Fats, oils and greases
float to the top where they can also be solubilized over time. The waste flows to the
distribution box and then to the leach field. In the leach field, most of the remaining
organics are degraded, primarily through aerobic processes, depending on the condition
of the leachfield. The treated water then percolates through the soil and is absorbed by
plants or evaporates into the atmosphere returning to the natural hydraulic cycles.

In septic systems, the MicrobeLift-IND is to be added as follows:

Initial Dosage

Maintenance

For Septic Tanks up to

2,500 gallons

One (1) quart every 2

months

From 2,500 gallons to 5,000

gallons

gallons

Two (2) quarts every 2

months

Over 5,000 gallons

gallons

gallon

Three (3) quarts every 2

months

For slow or blinded leach fields, MicrobeLift-IND should be added directly to the
distribution box as follows:

Initial Dosage
Day 7

For leach fields up to

1,500 sq. ft.

5 gallons
3 gallons

For leach fields over

1,500 sq. ft.

8 gallons
5 gallons

Additives for Septic tanks

Over the years, there have been many misconceptions about the benefits and mode of action of
septic tank additives, particularly microbiological products. Due to the improprieties of a few
profiteers and the lack of understanding of septic tank operation, many states published
summaries which they believed were in the best interest of the consumer. This literature
disparaged septic tank additives, particularly bacterial cultures, even though none has really
taken a comprehensive, unbiased view of the situation nor has considered advances in
biotechnology and differences in product capabilities and claims.

Septic System

A septic system is a rudimentary form of wastewater treatment process designed to handle

waste from an individual household or facility when no public sewer system is available. The
septic system consists of a septic tank and leach field. In the septic tank, micro-organisms
(primarily bacteria) digest organic solids and begin the process of reducing the organic content
of the waste. Breakdown of nitrogenous compounds is also initiated here. Most of the activity in
the septic tank is anaerobic, although there is some aerobic, microaerophilic and facultative
activity. The waste then flows to the leach field where the remaining organics are degraded, and
the bacteria gets filtered out as the water percolates through the leach field which results in
relatively clean water recharging the aquifer or nearby receiving stream. The activity in the leach
field is primarily aerobic.

Like any biological process, a septic system is subject to problems associated with the lack of
the necessary biological activity in the system resulting in myriad problems including odors,
ponding and plugged leach fields. If the systems didnt occasionally need assistance, they would
not fail as often as they do.

Additives

Additives usually fall into one of the following categories: chemicals, nutrients, enzymes, and
micro-organisms including bacteria and fungi. Some additives may contain one or a combination
of these. A brief description of each follows:

Chemical Additives These are usually alkaline compounds that help digest organics and raise
the pH in the septic tank which tends to be acidic, thus providing a more optimum operating
range for the micro-organisms in the tank. The products are quickly consumed in the
neutralization process and create the corresponding chemical salts which may cause problems
in the leach field.

While the products do typically work as advertised, the benefits are short lived and continual
addition is required as the chemical is consumed. Often times, the benefits are sold as almost
magical to the chemically uninitiated, but it is straightforward chemistry. The only thing not clear
is the cost of these commodity chemicals like calcium hydroxide which sells for $.20/lb in bulk
and is sold for $2.00 to 10.00/lb. to the consumer.

Nutrients A number of products on the market contain essential macro and micro-nutrients for
the bacteria, similar to vitamins. Usually they include nitrogen and phosphorous, metal co-factors
and growth stimulants. Many of these are available in the water flowing to the septic tank as
components of the waste, but not always. Just as there is a controversy over whether humans
need vitamins in their diets, there is controversy over the effectiveness of these types of
additives for septic systems. One certainty is that there are essential macro and micro-nutrients
which the bacteria need to perform their job in the septic system, and the lack of these will limit
their activity.

Enzymes By definition, enzymes are biochemical catalysts through which most living things,
especially bacteria, alter other compounds biochemically. Humans and animals have digestive
enzymes in their saliva, stomach and intestinal tract.

From a chemical standpoint, enzymes are proteins and not living, hence they do not reproduce.
All breakdown of waste, which bacteria mediate, is done through the activity of numerous
enzymes that they produce. Enzymes can help jump start a biological system, but the overall
benefits are limited, since it takes many enzymes to completely breakdown waste. Usually the
enzymes wash out or are destroyed and have to be added in relatively large doses to provide an
ongoing benefit.

Bacterial Additives Since these products are in some ways intangibles and a lot of inferior
products are on the market, these additives have developed a dubious reputation. Many
products available from respected manufacturers represent significant advances in
biotechnology. Unfortunately, they suffer from guilt by association with the less reputable
manufacturers. While larger companies produce some of the better known brands, one
commonly used dry product in particular from a large consumer products company is nothing
more than sodium chloride, better known as table salt.

A good biological additive for a septic tank should have a broad spectrum of aerobic, facultative,
and anaerobic bacteria to provide the maximum benefit. Many products contain strictly aerobic
bacteria and therefore, offer limited benefit. A healthy bacterial population will produce the full

1 0

complement of enzymes required for the complete digestion of the waste and eliminate the need
for supplementary enzyme addition. This will often involve more than fifty enzymes being
produced by the microbial consortia. The advantage of bacterial additives is that they will
multiply in the system and reduce the maintenance addition to once every few weeks or even
months for the better products.

Often times these bacterial products are derisively referred to as superbugs but in a way, they
actually are when compared to the capabilities of most populations. This would be like calling
many of the new biotech pharmaceuticals that represent significant advances in technology,
superbugs, when they are in fact addressing illnesses that were previously untreatable.

Many people are advised to add yeast to a septic tank to aid in the function of the tank. While
yeast can grow in the tank, they have relatively limited metabolic capabilities and are best at
breaking down simple compounds like sugars and certain starches. These compounds rarely
present a problem in septic systems.

The septic system is a biological process. Like any living thing, it has certain nutritional
requirements to function properly and functions best in a suitable environment. There is a
scientific basis for many of the additives, although some require vigilant monitoring and addition.
However, the best first step in optimizing the performance of a septic system is to have a
complete ecosystem of the organisms required for the most complete breakdown of the waste.
Only a few products on the market do this.

While many trade organizations, consumer groups, and state agencies lambaste biological
additives, they refute their claims with little or no evidence, often citing decades old studies
performed before many of the newer, more effective products were introduced. They also fail to
acknowledge the results that have been obtained in well-documented field studies with biological
additives.

In Summary

When considering the addition of a bacterial additive, look for several things. First, find a product
which has the full complement of organisms needed for efficient septic tank operation including
aerobes, facultative anaerobes and anaerobes. Second, pick a product from a company which
has been in business and has a track record of successful application of their product and not
just a company which has a lot of marketing dollars to throw into advertising. Third, use a
product that is available through septic tank professionals who are the real experts when it
comes to your septic system. Fourth, read the ingredients! Last, consider the source when you
begin reading information. Determine if the provider of the information has their own agenda.

1 1

Hog Pits and Slurry Tanks

With the advent of the agribusiness, the concentration of livestock on farms, e.g. pigs,
cattle, etc. has increased to the point where management of the waste from these
animals has become essential. Runoff from animal farms has been implicated in the
contamination of ponds, lakes and rivers. Odors from waste storage facilities have
become more of a problem as suburban areas become more populated. Indoor holding
facilities for the animals in colder climates can experience strong odors from the waste
which can result in illness to the animals, slower weight gain and death.

The common practice for most of these livestock farmers is to collect the waste and spread it
on the fields to benefit from the intrinsic fertilizer and soil enriching value of the manure. The
primary problems experienced in the storage and handling of manure are as follow:

Odors

Separation of the manure into fractions

Crusting

Runoff from the fields, especially when the loading rate is high

Since odor is the most distinguishable problem, many farmers address this with the
quickest fix which is usually a chemical oxidizing agent like hydrogen peroxide or
potassium permanganate. The peroxide and permanganate alleviate the odors by
oxidizing the skatole, mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide. This treatment has a substantial
cost, since these materials have to be added in a stoichiometric quantity as mentioned
earlier. Peroxide and permanganate also destroy most of the fertilizer value of the
manure and can cause phase separation.

MicrobeLift-IND's unique ecosystem breaks down the odor causing compounds

naturally, keeps the manure in a uniform pumpable slurry form and enhances the
fertilizer value of the manure making it more readily absorbable by plants.

For the treatment of hog farms, veal farms and cattle ranches, MicrobeLift-IND should be
added based on the following usage table:

1 2

Holding Tanks and Lagoons

APPLICATION RATES

Size of

st

1 Application
Next 4 Weeks

Maintenance

Pit/Lagoon/Tank

(Purge/Inoculum)

(once/week)

(twice/month)

(in gallons)

5,000 10,000

3 gal.
2 qt.

1 qt.

10,001
50,000

4 gal.
3 qt.

2 qt.

50,001 100,000

5 gal.
1 gal.

3 qt.

100,001
300,000

6 gal.
2 gal.

1 gal.

300,001
500,000

7 gal.
3 gal.

1 gal.

500,001 1,000,000

10 gal.
4 gal.

2 gal.

1,000,001
1,500,000

15 gal.
5 gal.

3 gal.

For every lagoon over 1,500,000 gallons, use a 10 gallon innoculation of MicrobeLift-IND per
million gallons of lagoon volume. Then add 5 gallons per million gallons for the next four weeks
and maintain a dosage of 3 gallons every two weeks per million gallons of capacity.

Example: 2,000,000 gallon capacity = 20 gallon purge, 12 gallons per week for 4 weeks and 6
gallons every two weeks maintenance.

Litter Systems
While not common in the United States at this time, litter systems have been used for years in the

Far East and are becoming increasingly popular in Europe. In a litter system, a layer of litter,
usually sawdust, is applied to the floor of the hog pen. The litter absorbs the urine and
moisture from the hog manure and keeps odors down. Since the litter material is usually
cellulosic, it breaks down slowly and helps to slow down the overall rate of microbial
breakdown which keeps the system aerobic. Since it is a form of composting, the process also
generates heat during breakdown which helps to heat the hogs during colder weather. Once
the layer of litter is well covered with hog manure, another layer of litter is added. The layers
break down and reduce in volume but do occasionally have to be removed. The used litter is
then applied to the soil as fertilizer.

For application

Initial Dosage

Maintenance Dosage

Use 1:10 dilution of MicrobeLift-

Use 1:20 dilution of MicrobeLift-

IND/water

IND/water

Dairy Cattle

Apply one gallon per month for every 50 head (1200-1400 lbs. of manure). Dosage can be
applied monthly or broken down into a weekly application of 1 qt./wk.

To dose, dilute 1:10 with water and spray into reception pit, gutters, through slats, ram pumps,
and over manure in alley ways.

Waste Lagoon

Application rates are based on influent volume and conditions of the lagoon. For a 1,000 to
5,000 gal/day lagoon, dose 5 gallons for the first day and 2 gallons per week for the next four
weeks. Thereafter, add 1 gallon/wk. If the lagoon has crusted over, spray the dosage over the
surface in a 1:10 dilution until the crust has dissolved. Adjustments in dosage may be required
depending on the system.

Aqua-culture Systems

Similar to the problems experienced when growing livestock concentrated on a given portion of
land, aqua-culture grows fish at a much higher density per unit of water than that which
normally occurs in the environment. As a result, fish waste and other organic matter which
normally does not present a problem in rivers and streams, can build to toxic levels in an aquaculture system if the water is not treated properly.

Of particular importance are the nitrogenous fractions of the waste including ammonia, nitrite
and nitrate. Once the system has been conditioned or cycling has been established (two
terms commonly used for establishing populations of nitrifying bacteria), the nitrogenous
components of the waste do not pose a great problem. But whenever the loading increases, the
nitrifiers may not respond quickly enough to handle the increasing load. MicrobeLift-IND
contains the full complement of organisms responsible for the complete cycling of nitrogenous
waste to nitrogen gas through a sequence of aerobic and anaerobic transformations.

In addition, the MicrobeLift-IND can break down the organic components which can cause offtaste in the fish and lead to rapid dissolved oxygen uptake leading to sags in dissolved oxygen
and fish kills. The organics can also build up on the bottom reducing the effective volume of the
holding tanks.

For aqua-culture systems MicrobeLift-IND should be added according to the following schedule:

Size of Pond

st

1 Application

Next 4 Weeks

Maintenance

(in gallons)

(purge)

(once per week)

(twice per

month)

5,000 - 10,000

2 gal.

1 qt.

1 qt.

10,001
- 50,000

3 gal.

1 qt.

1 qt.

50,001 - 100,000

4 gal.

gal.

gal.

100,001
- 300,000

5 gal.

gal.

gal.

300,001
- 500,000

6 gal.

1 gal.

1 gal.

500,001 - 1,000,000

10 gal.

2 gal.

2 gal.

1,000,001
- 2,000,000

15 gal.

3 gal.

3 gal.

While fish ponds have a longer residence time for the bacteria to grow, the waste also tends to
be more concentrated.

Golf Courses Ponds and Lakes

Many golf courses have lakes and ponds to add to the aesthetics of the environment and to the
degree of difficulty of the golf course. Since golf courses have to fertilize regularly to maintain the
highly developed turf on the greens, tees and fairways, many of these ponds receive runoff water
containing fertilizer which results in algae blooms that are unsightly and can often lead to odors.

Advantages of MicrobeLift-IND over Copper Sulfate (CuSO4)

Over the years, one of the most commonly used chemicals for algae control in ponds and
waterways has been copper sulfate, empirical formula CuSO4. Copper sulfate works by
dissociating into sulfate (SO4-) anions and copper (Cu+) anions. As a heavy metal, Cu+ is
toxic to many life forms but particularly to aquatic plants and algae as it interferes with their
metabolism. While normally not used in high enough concentrations to harm aquatic life, it has
been discovered that over the years, the copper ion, which is taken up by the algae, is
released as the dead plant decomposes resulting in high concentrations of copper in the
sediments. Over time, these sediments can build up toxic concentrations of copper that are
toxic to aquatic life. The sulfate does not build up because there are bacterial processes which
can convert the sulfate to other sulfur compounds like hydrogen sulfide.

In many states, copper sulfate for algae control has been outlawed and sediments must be
disposed of in a secured landfill.

In contrast, MicrobeLift-IND reduces and limits algae growth by two mechanisms: competitive
exclusion and the production of a natural inhibitor which is not harmful to other aquatic plants
or animals. The photosynthetic bacteria in MicrobeLift-IND, which are similar metabolically to
algae, compete with algae for the essential macronutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous. By
effectively competing with the algae, the photosynthetic bacteria leave little nutrients for the
algae to grow on. While they provide the same benefits as the algae in terms of oxygenation,
they have none of the detrimental side effects, cosmetic or otherwise.

Comprising only naturally occurring bacteria and some inorganic salts, MicrobeLift-IND does
not result in the buildup of harmless residuals.

Copper Sulfate:

Contains the toxic heavy metal copper which can be toxic to all aquatic life.
Results in the buildup of a toxic residual which can build up in sediments.
As an algaecide, completely kills most algae.
Dusty material which should be applied with respiratory protection.
Provides no other benefits to the overall ecology of the system.

MicrobeLift-IND:

Is completely non-toxic. Safe for the environment and aquatic life.

All components completely recycled to the environment, so there is no residual buildup.

Reduces algae growth by competitive exclusion and selective inhibition, so there may be very
light algae growth which may be desirable for overall health of the pond and certain species of
fish.

Restores ecological balance to pond with added benefits of establishing or improving

nitrification, digesting organic waste, digesting unconsumed food and reducing odors.

For algae, odor and turbidity control, as well as a reduction of pesticide runoff, add MicrobeLiftIND according to the following schedules:

Size of Pond

st

1 Application

Next 4 Weeks

Maintenance

(in gallons)

(purge)

(once per week)

(twice per

month)

5,000 - 10,000

2 gal.

1 qt.

1 qt.

10,001
- 50,000

3 gal.

1 qt.

1 qt.

50,001 - 100,000

4 gal.

gal.

gal.

100,001
- 300,000

5 gal.

gal.

gal.

300,001
- 500,000

6 gal.

1 gal.

1 gal.

500,001 - 1,000,000

10 gal.

2 gal.

2 gal.

1,000,001

- 2,000,000

15 gal.

3 gal.

3 gal.

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants and

Collection Systems

One of the most significant tasks faced by city officials is to provide safe, potable water to
members of the community and subsequently, to transport the used water or sewage away to
be disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner. Where public sewers are not
available, the homeowners and business owners must provide some means of on-site waste
water treatment, usually a septic system.

The systems which convey this water to the wastewater treatment system are called
Collection Systems. The collecton system consists of a network of progressively larger pipes
from 2 to 4 inches in diameter that run into mains which may be well over 6 feet in diameter.

There are numerous problems associated with the operation and maintenance of a collection
system. The most common are:

Accumulation of organics - particularly oil and grease, which inhibits free flow and can result
in the backup of sewage. Municipalities spend millions of dollars each year in specialized
equipment and manpower to keep these lines freely flowing.

Hydrogen sulfide as organisms metabolize organics in the waste stream and consume
oxygen, the redox potential is reduced to a point where sulfate reduction can occur which
results in the generation of hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide causes a number of
problems including odors, corrosion and inhalation hazards. The hydrogen sulfide is also very
common in the headworks of the treatment plant where the gas first has a chance to vent to
the atmosphere.

Malodors in addition to odors related to hydrogen sulfide, other odors can result and
emanate from organic breakdown products like mercaptans and organo-sulfur compounds
which can be readily metabolized by MicrobeLift-IND.

At the end of the wastewater treatment system is the wastewater treatment plant. The plant
usually involves primary and secondary treatments. In cases where discharge standards are
stringent, a third treatment may be employed.

Primary treatment normally involves some form of physical chemical treatment to remove
particulates, large and small, as well as colloidal organics. Secondary biological treatment is
utilized to remove dissolved organics, normally monitored as BOD or COD in the wastewater.
Most municipalities use either some form of activated sludge system or a trickling filter.
Municipal waste tends to be relatively low in strength, between 175 and 250 mg/L BOD and
readily degradable.

Some of the key areas where MicrobeLift-IND can be beneficial in municipal plants:

Startup and recovery of biological wastewater treatment systems.

Improving organic removal efficiency.
Improving performance of systems with inadequate aeration capacity.
Improving plant stability.
Establishing or improving nitrification.
Expanding plant capacity without capital expenditures.
Improving oils and grease digestion.
Reducing sludge generation per pound of BOD removed.
Improving cold weather operation.
Improving solids settling.
Improve breakdown of refractory organics.

The recommended application rates depend on flow and BOD levels:

Day 1

Day 8, 15, 22, 29

Maintenance Dosage

BOD 100

10 gal per million gal

4 gal per million gal

2 gal per million gal flow

1,000 (mg/L)

flow (min 3 gal)

flow (min 2 gal)

(min 1 gal) 1x/wk

BOD 1001

12 gal per million gal

5 gal per million gal

3 gal per million gal flow

5,000 (mg/L)

flow ( min 5 gal)

flow (min 3 gal)

(min 2 gal) 2x/wk

Industrial Wastewater Plants

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants are used to treat and process wastewaters from
various industries including Chemical, Petrochemical, Refining, Pulp & Paper, Iron & Steel,
Food Processing (including slaughterhouses), Leather Tanning and Mining. Typically these
plants represent the highest organic concentrations for which biological treatment is used.
While most municipal wastes average 175 to 250 mg/l BOD, many industrial plants have BOD
anywhere from 500 mg/l to 10,000 mg/l and higher. Inhibition and toxicity are also more of an
issue with industrial wastewaters.

Examples of typical problems associated with various industrial wastes which MicrobeLift-IND
can resolve:

Filamentous Bulking - depends on the cause of the bulking

Chemical Wastes MicrobeLift-IND can degrade many of the most common industrial
chemicals including phenols, alcohols, straight chain alkanes, aromatic compounds, etc.

Confectionery MicrobeLift-IND has been used successfully to treat sugar waste, high
fructose corn sugar, liquid sugar and chemicals related to chocolate processing.

Dairy Dairy and cheese processors have had very good success on dairy wastes for treating
the fats and whey associated with dairy wastes. Many well known dairy and cheese producers
in the United States use MicrobeLift-IND regularly.

Detergent Surfactants and other components of common detergents can be degraded by

MicrobeLift-IND. Many industrial laundries in the United States use MicrobeLift-IND for this
purpose.

Fish Farms MicrobeLift-IND helps break down organic components of fish wastes, unused
fish food and nitrogen compounds in the waste.

Food Processing A number of food processing plants use MicrobeLift-IND to reduce BOD
and odors.

Fruit and Vegetable Many fruit processors, especially apple processors, use MicrobeLift-IND.

Halogenated Aromatics A number of halogenated aromatics can be broken down by

MicrobeLift-IND including chloro and di-chloro phenol. It would be best to address specific
compounds in laboratory studies with some of the more highly substituted aromatics.

Petrochemicals MicrobeLift-IND can handle most petroleum hydrocarbons including

straight and branched alkanes, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene).

Nitrification MicrobeLift-IND contains Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter sp. It also has

denitrifying organisms to reduce nitrates after nitrification.

Paper and Cellulose Our product has been used widely in the paper industry for BOD
reduction and odor control. Improvements continue to be made to the cellulose degrading
ability of the product.

Pharmaceuticals MicrobeLift-IND can handle most of the spent fermentation media as well
as solvents used for extractions. It can also handle the binders used in tabletizing operations.

Refinery Wastes MicrobeLift-IND can handle the most problematic refinery waste treatment
problems e.g. phenols, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide (if sour crudes used), petroleum oils and
greases, etc.

Steel Manufacturing MicrobeLift-IND can handle

ammonia usually found in steel and coking
operations. rolling, etc.

the phenols, cyanide,

thiocyanate and
It can also handle the
oils used in steel

Tanneries MicrobeLift-IND can handle most of the waste problems associated with vegetable
tanning but is less useful in chrome tanning operations. In both it can handle the oils, fats,
ammonia, and proteins, but it cannot handle the Cr+6 in chrome tanning wastes.

Textiles MicrobeLift-IND can handle some of the surfactants, starches (used for sizing) and
organic dyes used in textile mills. It can decolorize some wastes but cannot do anything with
inorganic dyes.

Wine/Alcohols MicrobeLift-IND can handle the sugars, tannins and alcohols found in these
wastes. It can also alleviate thickening of the waste which can result from the formation of
polysaccharides.

Beverages Several bottlers use MicrobeLift-IND to handle the liquid sugars, high fructose
corn syrup and flavorings used in beverage production.

MicrobeLift-IND can help meet most of the standards presented but is primarily useful for
removal of BOD, COD, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrates, and to a limited extent, metals.
Biological treatment is not an efficient means of removing metals, and there are other
technologies which are more cost effective.

Dosage schedules for industrial wastewater are typically higher than normal because of the
greater need for stability in the system and the presence of compounds that are more difficult
to degrade. The following schedules are for all types of suspended growth systems (lagoons,
activated sludge systems, extended aeration systems) as well as situations including upset
recovery.

Addition schedule for suspended growth systems with a HRT (hydraulic residence time)
< 24 hrs.:

Day 1 & 4

Day 8, 11, 15, 18,

Maintenance Dosage

22, 25, 29, 32

COD 100

10 gal/million gal

4 gal/million gal

2 gal/million gal flow

1,000 (mg/l)

flow (min 3 gal)

flow (min 2 gal)

(min gal) 2x/wk

COD 1001

12 gal/million gal

5 gal/million gal

3 gal/million gal flow

5,000 (mg/l)

flow (min 4 gal)

flow (min 3 gal)

(min 1 gal) 2x/wk

COD > 5,000

15 gal/million gal

6 gal/million gal

4 gal/million gal flow

(mg/l)

flow (min 5 gal)

flow (min 4 gal)

(min 2 gal) 2x/wk

1 0

For systems with a hydraulic residence time over 24 hours, add MicrobeLift-IND
according to the following schedule:

Day 1 & 4

Day 8, 11, 15, 18,

Maintenance Dosage

22, 25, 29, 32

COD 100

10 gal/million gal

5 gal/million gal

3 gal/million gal

1,000 (mg/l)

aeration basin

aeration basin

aeration basin

volume (min 3

volume (min 1

volume (min gal)

gal)

gal)

2x/wk

COD 500

12 gal/million gal

6 gal/million gal

4 gal/million gal

5,000 (mg/l)

aeration basin

aeration basin

aeration basin

volume( min 4

volume(min 2 gal)

volume (min 1 gal)

gal)

2x/wk

COD>5,000

15 gal/million gal

7 gal/million gal

5 gal/million gal

(mg/l)

aeration basin

aeration basin

aeration basin

volume (min 5

volume (min 3

volume (min 2 gal)

gal)

gal)

2x/wk

For upset recovery, return to Day 8 through 32 dosage for two weeks e.g. dosage 2x/wk for
two weeks = 4 dosages.

Areas where MicrobeLift-IND can be used in industrial biological wastewater treatment

systems:

Startup and recovery of biological wastewater treatment systems.

Improving organic removal efficiency.
Improving performance of systems with inadequate aeration capacity.
Improving plant stability.
Establishing or improving nitrification.
Expanding plant capacity without capital expenditures.
Improving oils and grease digestion.
Reducing sludge generation per pound of BOD removed.
Improving cold weather operation.
Improving solids settling.
Improving breakdown of refractory organics.

1 1

Bacteria vs Enzymes

While enzyme products do work in certain applications, bacterial products are generally much
more cost effective to use.

Many people use the terms bacteria and enzymes almost interchangeably and consider them
basically the same thing. This perception is incorrect, and there is a big difference between
bacteria and enzymes:

Enzymes are:
Biochemical catalysts which mediate a variety of biochemical reactions.

Proteins many of them produced by bacteria.

Not living and hence, do not reproduce.

Specific only metabolize certain substrates.

Not consumed in reactions they mediate and hence, get washed out.

While enzymes do work to an extent, they are usually crude preparations of one or two
enzymes which mediate only one step in a breakdown reaction. They quickly wash out of a
system because they do not reproduce and are easily destroyed by heat, chemicals, etc.

Bacteria are:
1. Living so they reproduce and increase their numbers until they dont have enough
food to keep growing.

2. Enzyme factories producing the full complement of enzymes to completely

metabolize

most substrates in their environment.

3. Able to form biofilms which help them stay in a system or line instead of washing

out

like enzymes.

Because of these characteristics, bacteria are often much less expensive to use than enzymes.