Beat caustic soda price volatility by switching to Omya Neutrasorb

Like many other businesses, wastewater plant operators are facing the dual challenge of rising prices and poor availability of consumables. Joe McDaniel , Market Development & Innovation Manager - Water & Wastewater for Omya Inc understands their frustration and has been helping customers to find alternative solutions.

“One of the most severely impacted consumables is caustic soda,” he says. “Many wastewater plant operators rely on an uninterrupted supply of caustic soda, but volatile prices and unreliable availability are making this more difficult to maintain. In the last year, caustic soda spot prices have doubled whilst the cost of our calcium carbonate alternative, Omya Neutrasorb, has remained stable at around half the price of caustic soda.”?

While caustic soda has traditionally been the neutralizing agent of choice in the wastewater industry, it comes with significant safety risks that operators are less willing to take. “Increasingly stringent health and safety precautions mean customers would prefer not to use hazardous materials,” continues Joe McDaniel . “Caustic soda is highly corrosive, making it difficult to store and handle. Omya Neutrasorb, on the other hand, is not classified as dangerous, so it doesn’t need any special training or care.”

The technical benefits of Omya Neutrasorb give customers even more reason to consider switching. A recent trial with a customer at a chemical production site showed improvements in sludge volumes and dewatering. Jan Stemann, senior application manager for Omya, worked closely with the customer during the trial.?“The plant was using 3,500 gallons of 30% caustic soda every day,” he explains, “so we started by substituting just 10% to measure the effects on the activated sludge process. The results showed that if we swapped a third of the total caustic soda used for Neutrasorb, then the customer could expect to save around 200,000 US dollars a year on consumables alone. That’s without the extra savings created by the sludge improvements.”

The trial was so successful that the customer has built a permanent installation for the use of Omya Neutrasorb. To read the full case study, click here .

Omya Neutrasorb neutralizes wastewater rapidly, buffering the pH in the neutral range. The product is available as powder or slurry and has a good stability profile, reducing clogging, settling and equipment maintenance throughout the storage and feed system. “In challenging times, customers need an efficient solution that is reliable and affordable,” concludes Joe McDaniel. “Omya Neutrasorb is having an impact on the market in the US because it delivers this and more. It’s safer, more efficient and more cost-effective, so it’s certainly worth looking at if you’re currently using caustic soda.”

To find out more about Omya Neutrasorb and to book your technical site visit, go to wastewater.omya.com.