British Columbia Water & Waste Association Annual Conference, Penticton

April, 2007

Pilot Testing of the Micronex™ System to Produce a Class A Biosolids

John W.C. Boyle P. Eng., Vice President - Finances

 Purpose of Pilot Study

9 This presentation describes the findings of a

full scale pilot study to asset the feasibility
of using the Micronex™ system to produce a
Class A biosolids

9 The Micronex™ process is not presently

recognized as a Class A process under the
British Columbia, B.C. Organic Matter
Recycling Regulation.

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 The Micronex™ Processor Equipment

First America’s KDS Micronex™

employs kinetic energy to grind
and dry a wide variety of raw and
recycled materials into extremely
fine MicroFine™ powders
comparable to talcum.

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 The KDS Machine Configuration

„ Enhanced vertical impact

VAPOR BLOWER shaft mill configuration
VENT
„ High rotation speed (tip
speed 200 m/s, 4600 gees)
„ High air volumes 4000 cfm in
processor (Exhaust 600 cfm)

CYCLONE „ Operating temperature 50°-

TORUS
90°C
JET CHAINS/ „ No supplemental heat
BLADES

MOTOR

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 The KDS Micronex™ Processor Flow

First The classifier allows finished

product to pass through to the
cyclone and forces oversize
particles to be reprocessed
Cyclone

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 The Micronex™ Processor Equipment

Discharge
Chutes Torus
Chamber

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 Inside of the Torus Chamber of the Micronex™
Equipment

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 Micronex™ Process Is Not Described in OMRR

„ The Micronex™ process is not similar to any of the pathogen

reduction processes listed in the British Columbia Organic
Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR).

„ OMRR names acceptable processes known to produce a Class

A Biosolids. Any new process requires rigorous testing. If the
results from the tests from the new process were to receive
the approval from the OMRR Regulators, then the new
process would be additionally named as a process that is
acceptable to produce a Class A Biosolids

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 OMRR’s Authority

„ OMRR is given authority under the B.C. Environmental

Management Act, which is enforced through the Ministry of
Environment and the Ministry of Health in British Columbia

„ Key Contacts for Agreement on Testing Procedures are:

¾ Mr. Jack Bryden, M.Sc., P. Ag., Environmental

Management Officer - Ministry of Environment

¾ Dr. Ray Copes, Medical Director, Environmental Health

– B.C. Centre for Disease Control

„ We have been advised that the Micronex™ process will

require rigorous testing in a similar manner that processes
are evaluated by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s
Pathogen Equivalency Committee (USEPA - PEC)

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 USEPA Pathogen Equivalency Committee

„ Over the last fifteen years, the USEPA Pathogen Equivalency

Committee (PEC) has evaluated various innovative biosolids
treatment methods to determine their suitability for
classification as a Class A process according to the USEPA
CFR 503 Regulations.

„ In accordance with the CFR 503 requirements, the PEC is

empowered to review and approve applications for alternate
process schemes and sludge treatment processes which
produce disinfected biosolids, and which are determined to
be equivalent to existing Class A processes.

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 Field Testing Program

„ The field testing program to date has occurred in four phases:

1. Concept testing of the Micronex™ unit in Delta, B.C.

2. Establishment of pilot testing requirements

3. Initial pilot study testing in Prince George, B.C. for

fecal coliform destruction

4. Spike testing of the pilot study equipment in Prince

George, B.C. at the Lansdowne Wastewater Treatment
Centre

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 Addition of Biosolids by Hand

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 Processed Biosolids Being Discharged

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 Concept Testing

„ This occurred at First America’s facility in Delta. Biosolids at

20% (ODS) were handmixed with sawdust to approximately
achieve at least a 40% (ODS) mixture

„ Test Observations were as follows:

¾ There was almost 100 percent pathogen kill for total

coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli.
¾ Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples
¾ Measurable amounts of CO2 were found in every
sample of the exhaust gas. Levels of H2S were below
the detection limit for every sample taken.

„ A full scale pilot study was then implemented at the City of

Prince George’s Lansdowne Wastewater Treatment Centre

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 Class A Biosolids Protocol Requirements

1. Prepare protocol and submit to Province for Approval

2. Obtain spiking microbial cultures for helminth eggs

(parasites) and polio virus

3. Spike test 10 samples for each of helminth eggs and polio

virus

4. Conduct stabilization studies

5. Prepare report and submit with application to Province

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 Pathogen and Indicator Organism Levels for Class A
Biosolids According to CFR 503 Regulations

Class Requirements and Use Restrictions

Factor Class A Class B
Indicator Bacteria
Fecal Coliform <1x103 MPN/gram of TS <2 x 106 MPN/gram of TS

Pathogen
Bacteria BDL 2 log reduction
Salmonella <3 MPN/4 grams of TS 1.5 log reduction
Viruses <1 PFU/4 grams of TS 2 log reduction
Protozoa BDL -
Helminth <1 viable egg/4 grams of TS* -

Note: BDL = Below Detection Limit TS = Total Solids

MPN = Most Probable Number PFU = Plaque Forming Unit

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 Pilot Study Team Members

No Name From Position Role

1 Marco Fornari City of Prince George Utilities Manager Client

2 Norm Gobbi City of Prince George Chief Operator of Wastewater Client

Treatment Centre
3 John Boyle, P.Eng. Dayton & Knight Ltd. Principal Consultant

4 Alex Forrest, E.I.T., M.S.Sc. Dayton & Knight Ltd. Design Engineer Consultant

5 Babak Rezania, Ph.D., QEP Dayton & Knight Ltd. Design Engineer Consultant

6 Jack Bryden, M.Sc., P. Ag. Ministry of Environment Environmental Management Officer Protocol Approver

7 Ray Copes, Ph.D. UBC Centre for Disease Medical Director, Environmental Health Protocol Approver
Control
8 Bob Reimers, Ph.D., QEP Tulane University Professor Senior Spike Testing Program Director

9 Suresh Pillai, Ph.D. Texas A&M University Professor & Associate Director of Food Polio Virus & Enteric Virus Advisor
Safety and Environmental Microbiology
10 Kari Fitzmorris, Sc.D. Georgia Southern Assistant Professor Spike Testing Program Director
University
11 Dwight Bowman, Ph.D., Cornell University Professor of Parasitology Ascaris eggs Advisor
M.S.
12 Janice Liotta, B.S. Cornell University Parasitologist Spike Testing Program Director

13 Brian Nichols First American Scientific President Micronex Supplier

14 John Flaherty First American Scientific Program Manager Micronex Supplier

15 Ron Thring, Ph.D., P.Eng. Prince George Professor, University of Northern Independent Reviewer for Client
British Columbia

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 Pilot Study Storage Shed

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 Layout of Pilot Study Equipment
DEWATERED
BIOSOLIDS
LOAD CELL (TYP.) HOPPER

COMBINED WOOD PRODUCT

FINAL MIXER HOPPER/RETURN PRODUCT

From the concept study work, it was

recognized that even at the pilot
study stage, that there was a need
INCLINED BELT RETURN PRODUCT
BELT CONVEYOR
to automate the mixing stages. The
CONVEYOR
constructed pilot facility is
illustrated on this Figure

FAN EXHAUST
MOTOR GASES

INCLINED SCREW
CONVEYOR
MICRONEX UNIT

FINAL PRODUCT BIN

LOAD CELL (TYP.)

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 Hopper Systems

Wood Product /
Return Product
Hopper
Dewatered
Biosolids Hopper

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 Load Cell Arrangement

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 Temperature Increase of the Clam When Running Empty

120.00

100.00
Temperature (ºC)

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00 1200.00

Time (s)
Clam Tem perature Heat Rate (60-90 C)

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 Insulated Micronex™ System

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 Exhaust from Micronex™ System

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 Exhaust from Micronex™ System with Addition of Water
Spray

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 Spike Testing Team

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 Polio Virus Sampling

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 Withdrawal of Polio Virus Sample

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 Preparing Spiked Sample

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 Spike Test Sample

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 Biosolids Spike Test: Processing Times for Run 1 and 2

90.00
Legend:

85.00 Clam Temp Run #1

Clam Temp Run #2
80.00 Spike Processing Starts
Temperature (°C)

Spike Processing Stops Run #1

75.00 Spike Processing Stops Run #2
Run #1 Spike Feed Start
70.00
Run #2 Spike Feed Start
Run #1 Spike Feed Stop
65.00
Run #2 Spike Feed Stop
60.00 Run #1 Spike Output Stop
Run #2 Spike Output Stop
55.00
150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00 350.00
Tim e (s)

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 Pilot Study Conclusions:

9 The Micronex™ system is capable of meeting the

EPA 503 and OMRR Regulations for Class A
pathogen reduction.

9 From the two Spike tests carried out, it is

apparent that to achieve or exceed the USEPA 503
Regulation requirements, the micronex™ system is
required to operate at least at 80ºC for 60 seconds

9 Mitigation of the generation of dust from the

relatively fine final biosolids product and further
improvements to increase throughout require
further study

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 Recommendations include the following:

„ Design criteria should be established at temperatures in

excess of 80°C for 60 seconds. We recommended a minimum
temperature of 85°C to be used.

„ Further investigations are required to reduce dust and to

increase throughput.

„ Consider adding a pelletizer.

„ A further set of spike testing should also be arranged

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 Further Mixing Improvements Increased Throughput

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 Air Lock System to Improve Throughput

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 Pelletized Product

Pelletized Product

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 Micronex™ System

„ Questions?

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