Applications
Many wastewater treatment facilities use magnesium hydroxide to address common operational challenges such as odor control, FOG (fats, oils, and grease) management, and alkalinity supplementation. However, a common misconception persists that adding magnesium hydroxide can create problematic struvite buildup throughout the treatment process. In reality, when properly and strategically applied, magnesium hydroxide can help facilities better manage phosphorus, improve biosolids handling, and unlock downstream operational benefits.
Struvite is a common challenge for wastewater treatment facilities. Struvite forms when magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate combine under favorable conditions. Uncontrolled struvite precipitation can cause scaling in pipes and equipment. The magnesium hydroxide experts at MgWater™ developed a program to leverage this reaction strategically, making the uncontrollable controllable.
Not all Magnesium Hydroxide is Created Equal
THIOGUARD® is a 60% magnesium hydroxide slurry, the most concentrated form of consistent and reliably-superior aqueous alkalinity commercially available. THIOGUARD is more chemically robust than competing products and therefore can deliver more consistent results at lower dosage rates, ultimately leading to cost savings and increased efficiency. By supplying alkalinity in a controlled manner, THIOGUARD helps facilities improve plant performance while reducing corrosion, nutrient discharge, odors, biosolids, and operating costs.
THIOGUARD also remains one of the safest and most effective alkalinity sources available. Unlike caustic soda or lime, THIOGUARD is nonhazardous and presents little danger to treatment plant employees or the surrounding environment. Facilities can achieve stable pH conditions while reducing hydrogen sulfide generation and associated odor complaints without the risks associated with more aggressive chemical alternatives. It also does not contribute large quantities of added solids or create dangerous pH swings that can harm downstream processes if accidental overdosing occurs.
Rather than creating a struvite problem, THIOGUARD and MgWater experts can help facilities turn struvite chemistry into an operational advantage, delivering benefits across multiple stages of the wastewater treatment process.
How MgBalance™ Controls Struvite Downstream
MgWater developed MgBalance as a comprehensive treatment program to strategically dose magnesium hydroxide throughout a wastewater treatment process. This custom tailored solution leverages decades of Premier Magnesia magnesium hydroxide expertise and innovation for wastewater treatment, and combines it with modeling and evaluation tools using the Nutrient Recovery Index (NRI) and the unique wastewater treatment facility’s nutrient data.
MgBalance provides a controlled source of magnesium hydroxide that can support targeted struvite formation rather than allowing deposits to form unpredictably in the plant.
By encouraging controlled phosphorus removal through struvite recovery, facilities can reduce nutrient loads, improve process stability, and minimize maintenance associated with uncontrolled scaling. The additional benefits also include reducing polymer consumption and improving dewaterability. Recovered struvite can be beneficially reused as a fertilizer product, supporting nutrient recovery and sustainability initiatives.
A System-wide Approach
THIOGUARD attacks the conditions that contribute to fats, oils and grease, odor generation, recycled phosphorous accumulation, and an unhealthy biota. MgBalance can improve sludge conditioning and dewatering performance, resulting in drier biosolids cakes. Higher solids content means less water is hauled off-site, reducing transportation costs and disposal expenses while improving overall operational efficiency.
MgWater has the expertise to know how and where to apply magnesium hydroxide in a way that extracts the most added value, while managing nutrients and controlling struvite in a way the traditional dosing of magnesium hydroxide does not do.
If your wastewater treatment plant is ready to improve operational efficiency and control struvite, contact us today.
