What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of wastewater treatment, manure pits, and compost heaps? It would not be surprising to hear “bad odors” as the resounding answer. All three environments have odor problems in common due to the biological breakdown of waste. Often, a high concentration of waste worsens the odors because of insufficient oxygen to facilitate aerobic processes. As a result, decomposition automatically switches to anaerobic digestion, which creates a higher volume of odorous compounds, including excess ammonia that can also lead to environmental issues. Unpleasant odors are not only difficult to work with but can cause a public relations nightmare as neighbors complain about the uncontrolled smell. Fortunately, Bionetix® International has an answer to improve the situation by naturally stimulating biological processes with STIMULUS™.
What is STIMULUS™?
STIMULUS™ is a natural biostimulant, surfactant, and odor control product derived from natural plant extract. STIMULUS™ inhibits the formation of odors while enhancing microbiological activity by supplying bacteria with a food source rich in macro- and micro-elements that encourage the composting process. The major components of STIMULUS™ can bind ammonia to form complexes and reduce the level of ammonia in waste. The active ingredient in STIMULUS™ also inhibits urease activity, therefore prohibiting the release of ammonia and reducing environmental impact.
Who Can Use STIMULUS™?
There are many individuals and entities that can benefit from the use of STIMULUS™:
- Farmers
- Landscapers
- Industrial compost sites
- Wastewater treatment plants
- Food processing facilities
- Fisheries
Following is a closer look at the situations where STIMULUS™ could be of help.
STIMULUS™ for Compost and Manure Management
Farmers, landscapers, and industrial compost sites have to deal with the buildup of dead grass, landscape products, and other organics piled into compost heaps. STIMULUS™ effectively controls the odors resulting from this decomposition. One application of STIMULUS™ to the compost windrow when the material is first set out and again when the pile is first turned is typically enough to get the desired effects. The second dose is recommended to help with the possible anaerobic bacteria buildup in the center of the pile. Further treatment is usually not needed. STIMULUS™ is great for neutralizing the musty odors from yeast and molds that form in leaf piles stored over the winter for composting. It also helps stabilize the decomposition process in wet or dry seasons. STIMULUS™ can help prevent odor development in early spring or late fall when operating conditions in the compost pile may be poor due to excess moisture. In dry weather, there is an increased need for sufficient moisture to keep the compost process going. Adding STIMULUS™ to the processing water helps reactivate the compost and also helps water and oxygen penetrate deeper into the pile by natural surfactant action. In similar ways, adding STIMULUS™ to manure storage pits accelerates decomposition and minimizes bad odors for better manure management and natural fertilizer production.
STIMULUS™ for Enhancing Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater environments at food processing facilities and municipal plants are another great candidate for STIMULUS™. Using STIMULUS™ in lagoons and clarifiers helps boost the decomposition process, keep ammonia levels in check, and reduce odors. It has also been found to control volatile fatty acid buildup in anaerobic digesters, thus increasing process stability and reducing the need for supplemental caustics such as lime. STIMULUS™ can be added to sludge prior to dewatering to control odors and sprayed onto the sludge drying bed for additional odor reduction benefits. Adding STIMULUS™ to the wastewater stream can also reduce sludge buildup early in the process.
STIMULUS™ for Deodorizing the Waste Environment
Another huge challenge with waste and wastewater is that it not only smells bad itself, but it leaves behind a bad odor on everything it touches, resulting in putrid facilities and equipment. These are a few potential problem areas:
- Concrete floors, loading ramps, docks, truck bays, and wall
- Tile surfaces
- Dumpsters, bins, and containers
- Grit chambers
- Sewers and lift stations
The good news is that STIMULUS™ is extremely effective at deodorizing surfaces contaminated by urine, feces, garbage, and other organic waste substances. It can be diluted and sprayed onto concrete, metal, and tile to solve the problem. It can also be metered into sewers, tanks, lift stations, and grit chambers to help with the ever-present odor in those areas of sewage exposure.
STIMULUS™ for Ammonia and Odor Control at Fisheries
Another great place to use STIMULUS™ is in ponds and lagoons at fisheries. These have a naturally high level of waste and ammonia content from fish excrements, making the addition of STIMULUS™ for odor control and binding of free ammonia perfect for some of the key problems in this environment.
A Great Team Member in the Waste Treatment ‘Game’
If waste treatment were viewed as a game, the microbes would be the team players and STIMULUS™ would be both a cheerleader and a referee—a cheerleader because, although it does not contain microbiology itself, it stimulates bacteria in the surrounding environment to do the best job possible; a referee because of its natural actions to keep unwanted compounds in check (i.e., binding ammonia and inhibiting urease). Contact Bionetix® if you would like to invite this winning member onto your waste treatment team: https://www.bionetix-international.com/contact-us/!
Keywords: wastewater treatment, compost heaps, manure pits, odor problems, biostimulant, odor control at fisheries, compost and manure management, deodorizing the waste environment, ammonia and odor control, Bionetix
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