PAGE 2 | APEX MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2013 w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m

Whether you’re running around from meeting to meeting or trying to get your kids dressed in the morning, we all need vitamins and other trace elements in order to function ad-equately on a daily basis. They aid our bodies in maintaining good health and fighting off ill-

ness when we’re under the weather.

Some may need more than others to perform at an op-timal level depending on the task at hand. [Hey, pitchers and catchers report to spring training soon!]

The same goes for bacteria. In most people’s minds, bacteria has a negative connotation when it comes to… well, anything. In the realm of waste-water and sludge processing, though, bacteria is the Michael Jordan of waste treatment.

There is a plethora of bacteria in wastewater and sludge, good and bad, which are the driving force in the natural biological process. They work to reduce such things as fats, oil and grease (FOG) and biochemi-cal oxygen demand (BOD).

The effectiveness of the good bacteria is dependent on micronu-

trients, especially with aerobic (requires oxygen) bacte-ria that need more trace elements as cofactors than anaerobic (does not require oxygen) bacteria. If the availability of these nutrients is low, bad bacteria that

require fewer micronutrients will become dominant.

In certain situations, some bacteria or yeast strains may release sufficient quantities of antibiotics that sup-press growth of other microorganisms. Additionally, an increased presence of protozoa may also have an

undesirable effect by feeding on bacteria, subsequently reducing the population of good bacteria.

Click to learn how

feeds and aids good bacteria.

In wastewater and sludge processing, the reduction of FOG, BOD, as well as hydrogen sulfide (H2S); chemical

oxygen demand (COD); and total suspended solids (TSS) is necessary due to local and federal regulations and a facility’s

bottom line. (continued on page 3)

RYDALL WO: The multivitamin for bacteria

• Reduce H2S by 95% Sludge tanks and sewers

• Reduce BOD by 50% & TSS by 30% Wastewater treatment and pre-treatment facilities/operations

• Reduce COD by 65% & Increase Dissolved O2 by 100% Wastewater lagoons and ponds

Just how effective is RYDALL WO ?

w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m APEX MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 3

(continued from page 2)

Most manufacturing or processing facilities are re-quired by law to pre-treat its wastewater to meet acceptable levels of contaminants (e.g. BOD, FOG) prior to sending it off to a wastewater treatment plant. Companies can rack up significant fines for not meet-ing those requirements.

Aside from investing significant capital in equipment and land, such as aera-tion systems, digesters, dewatering equipment, and retention tanks and ponds, haul-off fees for sludge are also costly.

Implementing RYDALL WO Water Op-timizer as part of the treatment process

can enhance how quickly and efficiently you treat and process wastewater and sludge, in turn, sav-ing you money in maintenance and disposal costs. Un-like other products, RYDALL WO does NOT contain active enzymes or bacteria that could have adverse effects on your wastewater treatment process.

The biodegradable RYDALL WO can be used as a cost-effective pre-treatment additive that can help facilities treat its wastewater more effectively, meeting local and federal wastewater regulations to eliminate costly fines. It can also expedite sludge processing by reducing the amount of sludge produced.

This can save you money by reducing the amount of sludge for disposal or frequency. Also, RYDALL WO will give you added capacity in your retention tanks or ponds, as well as enhance the effectiveness of other treatment equipment and systems.

Just think of RYDALL WO as a multivitamin for bacteria.

Starch processor puts RYDALL WO to the test

A specialty starch processor in Maine was intrigued by the capabilities of RYDALL WO in reducing the amount of produced

sludge and its effluent BOD levels. Apex provided a small sample of RYDALL WO to the client for test-ing on a sample of its wastewater obtained from the sludge tank.

Prior to the start of the test, the BOD level in the sample wastewater measured 5,500 mg/l. We recommended applying 200 ppm of RYDALL WO to the sample and measuring the BOD level after a few days. After just six days, the BOD level dropped significantly, measuring only 75 mg/l! RYDALL WO not only reduced the BOD level by nearly 99%, the client observed very healthy “bugs” under a microscope. The dramatic results from the test prompted the client to state, “I’ve been in this field for 10 years now, tried lots of stuff, and this sure is different!”

As a result of this successful lab test, our client de-cided to take the next step… adding RYDALL WO to its 350,000-gallon sludge tank. The client pur-chased a 55-gallon drum of RYDALL WO, which arrived at a time when his sludge tank was at maximum capacity and recovering from turn-ing anaerobic due to bad starch the plant had processed. They had been running blowers con-stantly for two weeks, but were unable to settle the tank during this period.

The client immediately added (2) gallons of RY-DALL WO to the sludge tank and after two days, they were amazed at immense growth in bugs and activity. An additional (2) gallons were add-

ed to the tank, and after the first week, they were able to shut off the blowers and release 22,000 gallons of supernate (releasable water)!

At this point, the client let the system continue and during the second week, they were able to pump off an additional 100,000 gallons of super-nate! After four weeks of RYDALL WO being in the system, the bugs were still big and healthy. This re-sulted in a cost-savings for the client as no solids needed to be dewatered, pressed or hauled off!

Further enhancing the wastewater treatment pro-cess and cost-savings, the exceptional quality of the supernate has allowed it to be pumped back to the beginning of the whole waste system.

Additionally, RYDALL WO effectively controlled the filamentous bacteria within the system, elimi-nating foaming and other adverse effects that usually occur with an overabundance of the filamentous bacteria, as well as the need for extensive and costly nutrient replacement to counteract those effects.

I’ve been in this field for 10 years now, tried lots

of stuff, and this sure is different!

“

”

A paper plant for a major company in Pennsylvania used RYDLYME to dis-

solve mineral deposits within its Bi-Carbonate System (Bi-Carb), which con-

trols alkalinity in the plant’s process water system. The Bi-Carb produces

scale buildup inside the mix and day tanks, plugging up the system’s pipes,

strainers and other components.

Solution

• 125 gallons of RYDLYME

• Circulated via pump inside mix tank for 3 hours; solution then transferred

to day tank and circulated throughout the rest of the system (closed-

loop) for 6-8 hours

Results

• After cleaning and water flush, scaling throughout the entire system was

eliminated, returning it to peak operating efficiency

• Client plans to continue using RYDLYME in this cleaning application and

is evaluating other applications in and around the plant where RYDLYME

can be used

Write this down, RYDLYME used on Bi-Carbonate System at Pennsylvania paper plant

RYDLYME takes on stripperAn Oklahoma oil refinery experienced heavy foul-ing on the distribution plates/packing material in its ketone stripper unit. The fouling was a result of caustic solution and water being steam heated. With a deposit buildup, the unit does not effec-tively remove the ketone from the waste stream. The plant turned to RYDLYME to address the issue.

Solution• 990 gallons of RYDLYME• Circulated via 2-inch diaphragm pump for 8 hours

Results• Client was extremely happy with the cleaning as the unit was able to ef-

fectively remove the ketone, improving efficiency. Also, RYDLYME is now part of the unit’s normal maintenance procedure

• RYDLYME was also used in a prior job at the plant cleaning out a heat exchanger. The cleaning reduced temperatures from 300o to 150o F on process side and 160o to 125o F on tube side

Grease is the word for RYDALL MPA manufacturing facility in Wisconsin used RYDALL MP Multi Purpose Degreaser to cut through eight months worth of grease, grime and dirt buildup on its Haas ST30 CNC Lathe unit. The unit had never been cleaned.

Solution• Spray bottle of RYDALL MP (50% - 50% dillution

with water)• Sprayed area, let sit for approximately 1 minute and wiped off

Results• After just 3 applications, the heavy buildup was gone• The company is using RYDALL MP on other equipment and areas through-

out its facility to safely eliminate grease, grime and other contaminents

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Just the facts...• Safe on metals typically found

in water-based equipment/sys-

tems, including stainless steel

and copper

• Can be held in open hand

• Biodegradable; non-toxic; non-

hazardous

• No special disposal measures

necessary

• pH-controllable for stricter local/

facility disposal regulations

• NSF(A3) & NSF/ANSI 60 certified

• Typical concentration for a job is

50%, with many instances requir-

ing even less

• Use this single product on a wide

array of equipment/systems and

applications

• Product has been in the market

for over 70 years with a proven

track record of safety & success

• Each member of the Apex sales

and technical staff has over 10

years of technical experience

with numerous applications and

equipment

Reasons why HVAC service professionals turn to RYDLYME

w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m APEX MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 5

From long-time users who continue to use and recommend the popular descaler, to future users who witnessed a sea shell dissolve in our hand, RYDLYME was a hit at the 2013 AHR Expo in Dallas. Here’s why...

Stainless steel condenser at a power plant

Absorption unit at a university

Boiler at a university

Cooling tower (hot deck) at an institutional facility

PAGE 6 | APEX MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2013 w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m

Whenever there is a deposit of any type of heat transfer surface, it retards heat transfer. This is referred to as “thermal resistance” and requires a corresponding increase in energy to overcome it.

Major manufacturers of air conditioning equipment generally design con-densers and chiller heat exchangers to operate at a maximum “thermal re-sistance” or fouling factor of 0.0005. As a result, a deposit of only .036 inches (about 1/32”) corresponds to an increase in energy costs of over 30%!

This 30% increase in costs relates to a common calcium carbonate deposit. The actual heat transfer coefficient of a deposit depends on what it is. Iron deposits of the same thickness are greater insulators and therefore have low-er heat transfer coefficients. Certainly, any deposit contributing a fouling fac-tor (thermal resistance) will increase electrical consumption and decrease efficiency.

The increase in electrical energy takes place in the compressor. Scale depos-its will increase the thermal resistance causing higher refrigerant gas temper-atures from the condenser. Higher refrigerant gas temperatures mean high-er gas pressures, which require greater energy to compress the refrigerant. Therefore, there is an increase in the electrical power required to operate the compressor. Minimizing this potential energy loss requires monitoring of the daily energy consumed per ton of refrigerant/air conditioning being gener-ated. This will allow you to recognize when inefficient operation is increasing due to deposit accumulation within your system.

The cost savings example (right) shows the increased energy costs associated with scale deposits. Utilizing the example in this chart, you can plug in your facility’s equipment, energy cost per kWh and equipment operating hours. This will provide the total energy cost to operate your equipment for one year. Once you have ascertained your annual energy costs, you can apply the fouling factor that correlates to the current deposit thickness that exists within your equipment.

Scale on chillers, condensers and heat exchangers...oh, my!

(above) Example of efficiency loss and increased energy costs associated with scale deposits inside a 500-ton chiller and how using RYDLYME can save you money. (below) Before and after a RYDLYME cleaning on chiller tubes.

DID YOU KNOW... using in safe chemical cleanings is safer,and more efficient and cost-effective than traditional mechanical cleanings?

w w w . a p e x e n g i n e e r i n g p r o d u c t s . c o m APEX MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 7

FOUL TERRITORY A whimsical concotion of information in the world of scale, grease, odors and more.

Smell-o-vision coming to a theatre near you?Just as Terminator 2: Judgement Day and The Matrix transcended special effects in movies in the early 90s and 00s, respectively, Avatar revamped 3D technology and gave us a cobalt thrill ride that only The Smurfs were able to do in years prior. What could possibly top James Cameron and the Wachowski brothers’ innovations?

Last year, the LA Times reported that a Korean company was working with approximately 200 U.S. cinemas to ret-rofit its theatres with “4D” technology. This technology will provide moviegoers with actual effects that cor-respond to the movie, such as water and wind pelting your face and odors invading your nasal passage.

Imagine being right in the middle of The Perfect Storm or crawling right behind Andy Dufresne during his trek through 500 yards of sewage pipe in The Shawshank Redemption.

[Andy could have experienced a more pleasant escape if he just had some RYDALL OE Odor Eliminator with him. CLICK to learn more about RYDALL OE and how it works.]

Installing this “4D” technology will reportedly cost approximately $2 million per theatre, with the capacity to produce more than 1,000 smells, including burnt rubber, gun powder and perfume.

A family going to the movies today already requires a small bank loan, so I can’t even fathom what it will cost to see a 4D movie. There will be a good percentage of the movie-going public who will shell out the extra cash to participate in this experience, but this trend should fade just as fast as it did for 3D movies. Then again, someone made a pretty good living with this type of entertainment years ago by swinging a wooden mallet and blanketing audiences with watermelon night after night.

Arizona Snowbowl became the first ski resort in the world to make artificial snow completely out of sewage effluent after more than a decade of legal quarrels. On Christmas Eve, the ski resort fired up its snow-making machines, and to everyone’s surprise, the snow that blasted onto the mountain was yellow.

The ski resort’s manager told the New York Times that the yellow color is from rust in the pipes, but others have concerns about the overall cleanliness and safeness of the fake snow.

Safe or not, perception is everything. As Kerri Jansen, reporter with Waste & Recycling News, wrote in a recent piece, “As someone who frequently face-plants while pursuing snow-based activities, I find this particularly disconcerting.”

Fresh, yellow powder?

Dirty Pictures Have a dirty piece of equipment? It can be anything from a scale-filled tube to a grease-covered machine. Send us photos of your fouled equipment and it could be used in a future edition of Apex Monthly.

Email a high resolution jpg or tif (1MB or higher) with a brief description of the equipment (type/model, age, function, etc.) and type of contaminant to:

Dan Peter at dan.peter@apexengineeringproducts.com

RYDALL CC Coil Cleaner is a biodegradable coil cleaner specifically designed to clean dirt, grease and soil residue from air-exposed surfaces of critical cooling or heating equipment. NSF-certified.

RYDALL MP Multi Purpose Degreaser is a biodegradable, medium-duty degreaser/cleaner that quickly and safely removes oil, grease, grime and other pollutants from all surfaces and components. NSF-certified.

RYDALL DD Definitive Degreaser is a biodegradable, heavy-duty degreas-er used specifically on all carbon-based derivatives found on the oil and/or process side of your equipment or system.

RYDALL VP Specialized Degreaser is a biodegradable, pH neutral degreaser specifically designed to safely and quickly clean and degas refinery process equipment. It can be applied in circulation or vapor phase applications.

RYDALL OE Odor Eliminator is a unique, environmentally beneficial biocatalyst containing a complex mixture of natural nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements designed to eliminate industrial odors and corrosion problems.

RYDALL WO Water Optimizer is an environmentally beneficial additive that disallows the formation of H2S, COD, BOD, FOG, TDS and TSS. This unique biocatalyst is also effective in enhancing methane production and O2 content.

RYDLYME Pumping Systems are specifically designed to circulate RYDLYME through a vast array of equipment and systems keeping your facility in peak operating condition.

DESCALER & PUMPING SYSTEMS

1241 Shoreline Drive

Aurora, Illinois 60504

T: 630.820.8888 | 800.451.6291

F: 630.820.8886

For 70 years, Apex Engineering Prod-

ucts has been formulating and manu-

facturing safe and biodegradable

specialty cleaning chemicals for a di-

verse range of applications around the

world. From our RYDLYME biodegrad-

able descaler to our versatile RYDALL

line of cleaners and degreasers, our

products will decrease downtime and

increase efficiency.

We are a fourth-generation, family-

owned company renowned not only

for our biodegradable line of prod-

ucts, but also our in-depth and ex-

ceptional customer support. With de-

cades of knowledge and experience

in a wide array of applications, our

knowledgeable technicians will work

closely with you to determine the best

solution for your facility’s unique chal-

lenges. To further minimize your down-

time, virtually all orders are shipped

out within 24 hours.

Apex Engineering Products also takes

great pride in being an ISO 9001:2008

Certified Company providing the high-

est level of support and quality of prod-

ucts to our customers…another formu-la that hasn’t changed in 70 years!

Made in the USA

CLEANERS & DEGREASERS

RYDALL CX Crude Deposit Cleaner is a biodegradable cleaner specifically de-signed to clean crude oil exchangers where pyrophoric corrosion deposits (e.g. iron sulfides) are present without having to pull bundles or dismantle exchangers.

ODOR CONTROL & WATER TREATMENT

[click on logos to learn more]

RYDLYME biodegradable descaler is specifically designed to dissolve the toughest water scale, lime scale, mud and rust deposits from virtually any piece of water-based equipment. NSF-certified.