Venturi Aeration, Inc.

Venturi Aeration Oxygenator Unit As Pre-aeration for Constructed Wetlands and Reed Beds

Constructed wetlands are a type of wastewater and sludge treatment system that uses phyto- (plant) and rhizo- (roots) remediation to achieve the biological reduction of organic and inorganic compounds in a wastestream. Reeds are the plants most commonly used and they are selected by species based on the specific location of the constructed wetlands or reed bed.

While Constructed Wetlands are most commonly stand-alone units, there are certain applications where the influent wastewater flow from the process plant has certain characteristics that could require additional or enhanced pretreatment in order to reduce the footprint of the constructed wetland. In those cases, a Venturi Aeration Oxygenator unit is used for pre-aeration to achieve reductions designed to reduce the toxicity and biological loadings of wastewater going into the Constructed Wetland. This reduces the overall capital cost of the total project, and increases performance of the combined system.

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Supernatant Aeration Using the Venturi Aeration Process

Supernatant from anaerobic digester can now be treated so that the supernatant can be returned to the plant headworks without causing any deterioration to the plant effluent. This direct method of supernatant treatment utilizes the venturi aeration process for odor control and conditioning which removes imbedded and clinging hydrogen sulfide gas bubbles from the solids inherently found in the supernatant. This permits odor free and degassed solids to settle rapidly in the primary clarifier.

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UV AIR Disinfection & Filtration Unit

In order to ensure that the cleanest possible air is introduced into the venturi aerator for non-chemical pH corrosion control and oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in drinking water, Venturi-Aeration, Inc. has developed a unique Ultraviolet Air Disinfection System and Air Filtration Unit.

This system was first developed in 1990 for use in a point-of-use system for stripping PCE out of water in a contaminated aquifer. While the venturi aerator strips the PCE, Radon and soluble carbon dioxide, there was originally no requirement to disinfect the influent air. Venturi Aeration, Inc. designed and recommended that the influent air be cleaned in order to prevent the introduction of airborne bacteria and airborne particulate into the drinking water.

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Field Testing: Quellz Enzymes: Hog Farm Lagoon Treatment (Versailles, Ohio July - October 2000)

A hog farm in Versailles, OH has an 18,000,000-gallon lagoon that accepts the hog waste material and washdown water from various breeding barns that surround the single central lagoon. The hog waste material accumulates in the pits under slatted floors in the hog barns and is predominately animal urine and fecal materials with some wash water. This material has high concentrations of ammonia and organic solids that produce high levels of hydrogen sulfide. Periodically, the barn is cleaned and the residual sludge material in the pit is flushed into the central lagoon.

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Venturi Aeration Oxygenator Unit As Pre-aeration for Bioclere Trickling Filters

The Bioclere™ Trickling Filter Treatment Unit is designed to treat wastewater that has already undergone primary treatment for the removal of solids in a primary settling tank. Additional treatment may provide removal efficiencies adequate to discharge effluent to surface water (under certain conditions) or provide relief to overloaded, failed or clogged soil absorption systems and/or reduce the size of required drainfield/leachfield.

The Bioclere™ trickling filter consists of a bed of highly permeable media to which microorganisms are attached and through which wastewater is trickled. The Bioclere™ uses a patented plastic filter media in a randomly packed configuration. The influent wastewater is passed from the primary settling tank, where most of the solids are separated from the untreated waste. While the Bioclere™ is most commonly a stand-alone unit, there are applications where the influent wastewater flow from the primary settling tank has certain characteristics that would require additional or enhanced pretreatment. In those cases, a Venturi Aeration Oxygenator unit is used in a pre-aeration tank to achieve reductions designed to reduce the biological loading on the Bioclere™. This reduces the overall capital cost of the total project, and increases performance of the combined system.

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Enhanced Bioremediation: Contaminated Groundwater and Soil Conditioning via the Venturi Aeration Process

In situ bioremediation has become increasingly successful as a remedial applications technology for the cleanup of hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvent contaminated sites, especially as new products and systems are being configured or as technology is transferred from other environmental or industrial applications to better support the biological contaminant reduction process. This paper describes the transfer of the venturi aeration bioreactor process technology for water and wastewater treatment to field bioremediation applications. The venturi aeration process not only conditions and acclimates microorganisms to their environment but it maintains optimal environmental conditions to eliminate and reduce stress factors. Additionally, it discusses the use of catalytic enzymes to accelerate the biological degradation of hydrocarbon and chlorinated compounds.

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Oxidation of Corrosive and Odorous Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in a Sewer Collection System (Tannery)

A Tannery in southern Maine processes and “blues” animal hides (previously treated) which they manufacture into leather. Their product, treated leather, is then sent to other manufacturing facilities for conversion into finished goods leather products. The Tannery discharges >500,000 gpd of process wastewater into the sewer collection system of their local town, but prior to entering the collection system the Tannery’s wastewater enters a 150,000 gallon pretreatment and equalization (EQ) tank. In the EQ tank the wastewater is treated to adjust pH to 8.0 with the addition of hydrated lime. A small 20-hp blower was u sed for mixing and equalization and to introduce dissolved oxygen into the wastewater. The blower was ineffective in adding dissolving oxygen into the wastewater and in controlling H₂S odors. The temperature of the discharged process wastewater varies from 106–115°F (40°–46°C) upon entering the EQ tank. Additionally, the Tannery adds ferric chloride (FeCl₂) to assist in controlling hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) odors.

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Venturi Aerators Shut down Septage Odors at Pennsylvania Septage Treatment Facility

Kline Services, Inc. operates a septage collection, processing and treatment facility in Salunga, PA. Historically, the facility has experienced numerous foul odor complaints from neighbors. The source of odors was hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans emanating from their two (2) 100,000-gallon open top equalization and mixing (EQ) tanks. These two tanks had been equipped with Lightning Mixers for equalization and mixing and to induce dissolved oxygen from ambient air sources at the surface of the tank. Unfortunately, the Lightning mixers released more hydrogen sulfide into the air than they oxidized in the liquid, and they did little to achieve the required BOD reduction for permit compliance.

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Enzymes as Catalysts in Biological Reductions

OVERVIEW

The cells in all living organisms are chemical factories, however, only a few of the hundreds of compounds necessary for the operation of organisms are obtained from their diet. Most of the required compounds are synthesized within the cells, which means that the chemical reactions take place within the cells of the organism.

Nearly all of these synthesized reactions are catalyzed by enzymes, which are protein molecules that increase the rates of the chemical reactions within the cells of the organism without themselves undergoing any change. Without enzymes, organic life forms would not be possible.

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Venturi DAF-Effect Oil, Grease, and Solids Skimmer

Venturi Aeration, Inc. through its affiliate HydroQuip, Inc. manufactures a high efficiency Venturi DAF-Effect (Air Flotation) system for separating oils, grease and suspended solids without the use of expensive polymers.

Air flotation technology is a proven, reliable method for removing oil & grease (O&G) and suspended solids (TSS) from wastewater or contaminated groundwater. It is the process of using micro-sized bubbles of air to enhance the natural buoyancy of substances with low specific gravities to float them to the surface of the skimmer tank. Based on the specific gravity a know rise time can be computed to determine removal efficiency. Once liquids enter the skimmer section of the tank the O&G and floatable TSS can be effectively removed with a unique slimmer blade that ever so gently skims the surface of the quiescent tank.

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