How Ph is controlled by the best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines
Best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines understand the fact that determination of pH plays an important role in the wastewater treatment process. Extreme levels, presence of particulate matters, accumulation of toxic chemicals and increasing alkalinity levels are common problems in wastewater.
As a chemical component of the wastewater, pH has direct influence on wastewater treatability – regardless of whether treatment is physical/chemical or biological. Because it is such a critical component of the makeup of the wastewater, it is therefore critically important to treatment. Before proceeding with treatment, you have to identify the parameters, the impurities that are in the wastewater. Once you know what you are dealing with, you determine the starting and the ending pH values, along with treatment procedures; then you have to select the appropriate chemicals best suited for treatment.
pH basics
Some fundamental facts about pH for best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines
pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14.
pH is the measurement of the activity of free hydrogen (H+, acid) and hydroxyl (OH-, base) ions in a solution.
pH 7.0 is considered neutral, or balanced; it has the same amount of acid and base ions.
pH below 7.0 is considered acidic.
pH above 7.0 is considered alkaline (or basic).
pH is commonly used to describe the activity of the hydrogen ion. An ion is a charged atom or molecule. An atom of hydrogen is made of one proton and one electron (Figure 1), and donates (or shares) its electron easily. Because an atom of hydrogen can share its electron with other elements easily, hydrogen can bond with atoms of other elements, forming what is known as an ionic bond.
Measuring pH
pH can be measured three ways by the best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines: the electrode method, the colorimetric method and the hydrion paper method. The electrode, the most common and probably the most accurate, uses a probe and meter. The meter measures the slight voltage differences between a reference electrode and a measuring electrode. This voltage, in millivolts (mV), is converted to a pH reading.
The colorimetric method includes indicator reagents like bromthymol blue and phenol red to produce color in the solution — red for acid and blue for base. The liquid’s color and intensity are then compared against a set of color standards. The hydrion method uses a special test paper (litmus paper) dipped into the solution. The color produced on the paper is then compared against color standards. Typically, acids turn litmus paper red and bases turn it blue.
The electrode method is accurate if the meter is calibrated properly and the sample is fresh. Most meters can be standardized with three calibration standard pH buffers. Common pH buffers are pH 4, 7 and 10. When standardized with these buffers, the meter is considered accurate across a wide range of pH values.
In Wastewater
The bacteria and other organisms which play an active role in wastewater treatment are most effective at a neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 7 to 8. To maintain these optimal pH conditions for biological activity there must be sufficient alkalinity present in the wastewater to neutralize acids generated by the active biomass during waste treatment especially nitrification. This ability best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines to maintain the proper pH in the wastewater as it undergoes treatment is the reason why alkalinity is so important to the wastewater process. If all alkalinity in the wastewater process is consumed, an alkaline solution such as caustic soda or magnesium hydroxide can be added to maintain the system pH between 7-8 as the denitrifying bacteria generate acid but this adds cost and complexity to the system.
What steps are needed to control pH?
First of all, you have to identify the parameters — the pollutants or impurities — that are actually in the wastewater. Once the pollutants are identified, you should determine the starting and the ending pH values, along with a specific treatment procedure; then the best sewage treatment plant suppliers in Philippines have to select the appropriate chemicals best suited for treatment.
How do starting and ending pH values impact the treatment procedure?
It takes residence or contact time during wastewater treatment for the pH to adjust appropriately. A very narrow pH range (i.e., 7.0 to 8.0) requires less contact or residence time as compared to a wider pH range (i.e., 7.0 to 10.0), so the procedure is affected by the required pH adjustment range.
