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Investigating the Effectiveness of Antibiotic Combinations Utilized in Fuel Ethanol Production

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Bacterial infections during fuel ethanol fermentations can negatively impact the fermentation process and lower ethanol yields. Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria (LAB), such as Lactobacillus , Lactococcus , Weissella and Pediococcus , are a common source of contamination due to their ability to grow in the harsh conditions, low pH, high temperatures, and high concentrations of ethanol, present during fermentation. [...]

Do Your Procurement Practices Align with Your Asset Management and Sustainability Goals?

In the recent edition of Opflow magazine, a publication by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), co-authors T.J. Stroebl (¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, AWWA MAC Vice Chair) and Randy Moore (Tnemec Company, AWWA Innovation Initiative Co-Chair) discuss the nexus between asset management and sustainability practices, and how goals related to both can be achieved through a properly structured procurement program. Having a [...]

Minimizing White Rust in Galvanized Cooling Systems

Galvanized coatings for cooling tower systems (cooling towers, evaporator tube bundles, etc.) have been used in the industry since the 1950s due to their relatively low cost and long service life. The galvanizing process bonds a layer of zinc metal to steel. When properly applied and passivated, the zinc coating works as a non-permeable sacrificial anode to prevent corrosion of the underlying steel structure. White [...]

Spring Cooling Tower Startup: Is Your System Ready for Peak Cooling Season?

Time spent getting a cooling tower cleaned and prepared in the spring will result in more reliable and efficient operation throughout the summer cooling season. Towers that have been off-line during the winter months can collect dirt, debris, bacteria and other contaminants from the environment, if not laid up correctly. This buildup can produce corrosion, equipment failure, biological fouling and microbiological [...]

Treat Water as the Most Critical - and Potentially Expensive - Ingredient You Use

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Water. We can’t live without it, and you can’t run a food or beverage plant without it. However, having it available for all earth’s inhabitants worldwide in the next 20 to 30 years will be a challenge—as already two-billion of the planet’s population live in areas where water is scarce. Unsurprisingly, the food and beverage industry is one of the largest water users, so it’s well [...]

Optimization Considerations for Increased Ethanol Plant Efficiency

Many biofuel plants are working toward efficiency and plant optimization to increase ethanol production. Often when plants move forward with expansion efforts, the adverse impact on system efficiencies, such as cooling, is overlooked. Without proper evaluation of the existing cooling system operation, plants could spend additional capital on an unnecessary cooling tower expansion or experience an increase in [...]

Is Your Control System Built to Last?

Programmable Logic Controllers ( PLCs ) are industrial digital computers that were adapted to control manufacturing processes, such as assembly lines, robotic devices or any activity that requires high reliability, ease of programming and process fault diagnosis. The first PLC system was installed at a General Motors manufacturing plant in the early 1970’s, which allowed for a more proficient way to modify the [...]

Developing a Successful Industrial Water Management Program

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A successful water-management program for a process cooling water system will rely on a number of factors, some of which may be overlooked or ignored until a problem arises. There is much to consider in order to keep equipment operating efficiently, minimize rejection rates, prevent corrosion-related failures, conserve water and energy and reduce the risks associated with waterborne pathogens such as Legionella . [...]

Acting Today with a Responsibility for Tomorrow

At ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, we are starting the new year with a re-energized focus and commitment to doing our part in making the world a better place. It is our mission to help customers around the world by developing integrated and sustainable water-efficient solutions. Innovative water management is crucial to solving the environmental, social and economic issues that face us today. Together, we can transform water [...]

Craft Brewing Wastewater Treatment: How Much Does Your System Need?

We know brewery wastewater treatment can be overwhelming with contributing factors including stressors on water supply, risk of water shortage or water pollution. Each of these factors have environmental risks, as well as increased financial costs to your facility.   We understand that there are many different wastewater options, including on-site treatment that may include pH neutralization, solids removal [...]

3 Things You Need to Know About Traditional Greensand Media

Greensand media has been incorporated into countless filters due to its flexibility and efficient iron and manganese removal in both the municipal and industrial markets. This user-friendly media is commonly found in horizontal pressure filters , vertical pressure filters and in gravity filters where iron is the primary contaminant to be removed. Greensand Media is versatile, able to also extract manganese, hydrogen [...]

Optimize Your Industrial Water Softener With A Brine Elution Study

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Most industrial boiler systems require soft feedwater and without this softening pre-treatment, boilers are at risk of developing hard insulating deposits that reduce the heat transfer efficiency and increase energy use. Severe deposit formation can permanently damage boiler tubes or cause dangerous failures from overheating. Water softening is an ion exchange technique used for removing calcium and magnesium [...]