Problem
Ammonia, nitrates and organic waste (such as proteins, starches, carbohydrates, cellulose, urine, fats, oils and greases) discharged from municipal, industrial, and agricultural operations contaminate water in streams, lakes, and other water bodies used for recreational and commercial applications. These contaminants can be harmful to aquatic life and often result in excessive harmful algae growth that makes water unhealthy. Cleaning these contaminants from water usually involves bioremediation.
Bioremediation is a nutrient management approach that uses organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants. The EPA’s definition is a “treatment that uses naturally occurring organisms (bacteria) to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic substances”. Nature relies on microbes/bacteria for natural recycling of nutrients throughout the environment, which improves water quality. Some bacteria create enzymes that break down more complex contaminants into smaller molecules that are easier to handle. In a normal environment, natural microbes in water are effective; however, when excess contaminants exist or when oxygen is low, water quality can suffer. Most bacteria reproduce on solid surfaces; therefore, the more surface available, the higher the amount of bacteria created, limited primarily by nutrients for growth.
BioRemediation of Clean Water
The Use of Bio Media for Cleaning Water
Denitrification Technology
BIO-Lair from MetaMateria provides an enormous amount of surface for bacteria to reproduce and grow, which is a key to increasing bacteria in water. BIO-Lair is a porous ceramic with a high surface area that can be made in different shapes for use in all applications.
Many plastic and other porous products are used for bacteria growth; however, none are even close to the area provided by MetaMateria’s BIO-Lair. As seen in the Table, BIO-Lair provides 100’s of times more surface.
BIO-Lair provides much higher concentrations of bacteria in water. Often, testing shows over 5-7 times more bacteria compared with plastic bio-balls. Multiple types of bacteria can grow to help control different types of contaminants. When bacillus bacteria are available, enzymes form to break down complex organic compounds.
Why BIO-Lair? A Presentation on Bio Media Application
Learn More About Bacteria and BIO-Lair
An open, interconnecting pore structure of BIO-Lair allows water to easily enter and leave and testing shows that bacteria growth rarely clogs pores.
BIO-Lair products are available in many shapes and compositions to provide flexibility for use in new or existing treatment systems. It can be packaged in durable plastic or attached to nets for suspension in dirty water. It can be used in almost any water clean-up application to treat a range of contaminants. Use of BIO-Lair with blends of environmentally safe bacteria will enhance its effectiveness for very dirty water where high concentrations of contaminants exist.
Application Examples
Waste Water Treatment
Industrial and Municipal waste treatment needs to reduce nitrogen and organic nutrients to meet discharge limits. BIO-Lair enhances aeration and denitrification processes, providing higher performance and lowering expansion costs when existing equipment is no longer sufficient for control.
The additional bacteria provided by a small amount of BIO-Lair will accelerate the conversion of organics and ammonia to increase performance of existing facilities by 2 times or more. Plastic media (e.g. Kaldnes and Linpor) often are added at 30-50% of the tank volume, while BIO-Lair can be equally effective at 10% fill volume. Bacteria are known to help control harmful algae blooms (HAB) and also reduce organics in bottom sediments. BIO-Lair can create high concentrations of enzymatic bacillus and pseudomonas bacteria that reduce existing HAB blooms and keep new blooms from forming. Bacillus bacteria naturally form in soils and are known to control HAB; however, most suppliers require repeated treatments of bacteria throughout the algae growing season, as often as every 2 weeks. This is not practical and too costly for larger water bodies. BIO-Lair sustains a higher concentration of bacteria in the water that outcompete HAB for nutrients. The presence of Bacillus bacteria can also reduce sediment thickness.
In summary, BIO-Lair benefits in Waste Water treatment includes:
Larger bacteria population to accelerate
contaminant removal
Larger populations stabilize against load changes
Output of existing treatment equipment improved, with less media needed
Contaminants drop to lower levels
BOD, TKN, Phosphorus < 3mg/L are typical
Reduced sludge production by longer bacteria working time
Sludge Volume Index (SVI)
Use of BIO-Lair and Bacillus Bacteria can provide:
Breakdown of existing algae blooms
Keep new algae blooms from forming
Water cleaner by removal of suspended solids
Reduced sediment build up
Lake & Lagoon Clean Up
Bacteria are known to help control harmful algae blooms (HAB) and also reduce organics in bottom sediments. BIO-Lair can create high concentrations of enzymatic bacillus and pseudomonas bacteria that reduce existing HAB blooms and keep new blooms from forming. Bacillus bacteria naturally form in soils and are known to control HAB; however, most suppliers require repeated treatments of bacteria throughout the algae growing season, as often as every 2 weeks. This is not practical and too costly for larger water bodies. BIO-Lair sustains a higher concentration of bacteria in the water that outcompete HAB for nutrients. The presence of Bacillus bacteria can also reduce sediment thickness.
Aquaculture
Excess contaminants exist in aquaculture systems – proteins, oils, carbohydrates and pathogens that require extra help to keep water clean and heathy for growing fish, shrimp and other aquatic creatures.
Because BIO-Lair produces more bacteria, it is especially effective in maintaining cleaner water for raising aquatic creatures. The product has been used in aquatics and aquaculture applications for over 10 years to manage ammonia, nitrates, and organic waste. Bacillus bacteria further enhance performance and increases resistance to disease. This will help reduce mortality, lower wasted food, limit disease, and control blue green algae to improve taste. Improves the water and creatures grow faster, are healthier and less food is wasted.
What to expect with BIO-Lair and Bacillus Bacteria:
Higher yields – more weight harvested
Less feed needed – reduces cost
Healthier water –reduces stresses on aquatic creatures
Control of Blue-Green algae – improves taste
Quick payback in one or two growing cycles
Learn More About Bacillius Bacteria:
Why Use Bacillus Bacteria.pdf