Transition to Green Steel PSR™ to . . .
Sustainable Phosphorus and H2S Control for Wastewater & Biogas
Green Steel PSR™: An Upcycled Wastewater Additive for Phosphorus and H2S Control
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Green Steel PSR™ is a patented, ultra-fine granulated additive that can replace common wastewater treatment chemicals such as ferric and alum. It impedes H₂S formation, inhibits struvite and vivianite scaling, and mitigates infrastructure corrosion caused by chemical treatment. It presents an economic step change in O&M overhead.
What does ‘Upcycled’ mean?
Upcycled (adjective): Refers to the process of reusing and transforming discarded or unwanted materials, products, or waste into new, higher-value products that inherently provide an environmental benefit. Upcycling reduces waste, conserves resources, and promotes sustainability. Upcycling is a key concept in the circular water economy.
How Green Steel PSR™ Controls Phosphorus and H2S in Digesters
Green Steel PSR™ is an iron-rich material produced from a byproduct of steel manufacturing. Green Steel PSR™ is introduced upstream from digesters as a slurry or dry granule for optimal performance. Within a few hours, phosphates and sulfides are sequestered and entrenched in the biosolids, which continue to be managed through existing SOPs. Within two days, phosphorus levels are reduced to achieve stringent regulatory requirements, and sulfur levels reduced to non-detectable levels – before it converts to H₂S.
How to Evaluate Green Steel PSR™ Through a Low-Risk Pilot
Evaluating Green Steel PSR™ is easy. If you’re seeking to reduce dependence and spend on chemical treatment, our pilots are designed to demonstrate performance in a low-risk manner. As Green Steel PSR™ is introduced into your treatment stream, your chemical system is slowly turned off while PSR™ is fully loaded into your digester(s) — in approximately two to three HRTs. If at any point during the pilot — or at the conclusion of it — you are not satisfied with the performance of Green Steel PSR™, simply turn your chemical treatment back on to resume your standard operations.
Cut Chemical Spend and O&M Costs with Measurable Environmental Benefits
Reduces phosphorus levels to help achieve stringent regulatory requirements
Green Steel PSR™ sequesters phosphorus in digesters through an adsorption mechanism, resulting in ultra-low P discharge.
Impedes H₂S formation in digesters
By sequestering sulfur in digesters -- before it converts to H₂S -- Green Steel PSR™ reduces gas cleanup costs (H₂S scrubbing, media changeouts, etc.), improves workplace safety, and mitigates infrastructure corrosion caused by metal salts.
Mitigates infrastructure corrosion
Green Steel PSR™ is an inert material and thus reduces the long-term costs and downtime associated with infrastructure corrosion caused by commonly used treatment chemicals.
Inhibits struvite and vivianite scaling
Green Steel PSR™ becomes the sacrificial nucleation surface, so scaling takes place on the particle rather than on the interior of digesters and downstream infrastructure.
Accelerates biosolids dewatering
In lab testing, Green Steel PSR™ causes digestate to dewater substantially more quickly than ferric chloride.
Lowers chloride and aluminum discharge
As a non-chloride, non-aluminum based reagent, Green Steel PSR™ does not impact chloride and aluminum levels in effluent streams as metal salts do.
Protects alkalinity and digester stability
Green Steel PSR™ reduces the need and cost for pH amendments to counter acidity caused by metal salts.
Slow-release nutrients for optimal land application
Green Steel PSR™ releases phosphorus and sulfur in a slow, plant-available manner in the digestate — a characteristic growers and fertilizer producers prefer.
Reduces odor that impacts neighboring communities
By sequestering sulfides, Green Steel PSR™️ substantially reduces H₂S , thus helping control odor.
Facilitates a safer workplace environment
Green Steel PSR™ eliminates the many risks associated with handling large volumes of hazardous chemicals onsite.
“There’s good reason to move away from using hazardous treatment chemicals, now that there’s a compelling alternative. Transitioning to Green Steel PSR™ should be an easy decision for anyone to make.”
-Coby Skye, President Blue Skye Environmental Consulting
Green Steel PSR™ vs. Ferric Chloride: For Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Production
| Attribute/Feature | Ferric Chloride | Green Steel PSR™ |
|---|---|---|
| Impact on O&M Overhead | High | Low |
| Sustainability/Circularity | Disqualified | Highly qualified |
| Corrosion | Causal | Non-causal |
| Scaling | Marginal inhibition of struvite and vivianite formation | Superior inhibition of struvite and vivianite formation |
| Solids Dewatering | Does not dewater as well as PSR™ | Reduced dewatering time |
| Workplace Safety | Highly corrosive and hazardous | Safe and easy to handle |
| Implementation | Requires cautious handling | Low-risk transition |
| Equipment | Delivered via pumps as a liquid | Delivered via bulk bag unloader or hopper |
| Supply Chain | 7 manufacturing locations in the US | Approximately 100 sources throughout the US |
The Hidden Costs of Conventional Phosphorus and H2S Treatment Chemicals
High Volume Usage
Operators often need to dose excessively high levels of chemicals to meet phosphorus-level compliance, which drives up the cost of chemical treatment.
Infrastructure Corrosion
Corrosive chemicals accelerate wear and tear on wastewater treatment infrastructure, increasing maintenance costs and operational downtime.
Workplace Safety
The handling and storage of large volumes of hazardous chemicals pose serious safety risks to plant workers and the surrounding community.
Environmental Damage
Excessive use of treatment chemicals leads to higher chloride and aluminum discharge, negatively affecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
Green Steel PSR™ addresses these problems by providing a sustainable, cost-effective, and safer alternative, aligning with today’s environmental and regulatory standards.
A Stable-Cost Alternative to Rising Ferric and Alum Prices
Over the past several years, commonly used wastewater treatment chemicals have seen significant price increases.
Ferric Chloride
Pricing has skyrocketed over 60 percent in just the last few years. Supply chain disruptions and tariffs on imported feedstocks have caused fluctuations in raw material prices, underpinning the rise in pricing.
Ferric Sulfate
Supply scarcity and shortages have caused a meaningful rise in pricing. This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Aluminum Sulfate
Rising feedstock costs are causing price increases that are anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future.
By transitioning to Green Steel PSR™, wastewater treatment plants can mitigate the financial impact of rising chemical costs while improving operational performance, achieving regulatory compliance, and addressing the environmental impact of excessive chemical discharge.
Green Steel PSR™ Benefits for Biogas and RNG Producers
Impedes H₂S formation before it reaches gas train
Reduces H₂S scrubbing to a polishing level
Extends scrubbing-media life
Cuts the number of scrubbing-media changeouts
Diminishes wear and corrosion of scrubbing infrastructure
Protects downstream gas infrastructure
Green Steel PSR™ can substantially reduce operating costs associated with producing biogas and renewable natural gas. By removing 80% or more of sulfur in anaerobic digesters — before it converts to hydrogen sulfide — Green Steel PSR™ can deliver measurable performance and economic benefits.
How Green Steel PSR™ Helps Meet NPDES Phosphorus Permit Limits
Green Steel PSR™ helps wastewater treatment plants meet stringent phosphorus levels required by NPDES permits. WWTP operators commonly utilize high volumes of treatment chemicals such as ferric and alum to meet NPDES permit requirements. This practice not only drives up operational costs, but it also increases discharge levels of chlorides and aluminum, which are becoming increasingly regulated.
Green Steel PSR™ is an iron-rich material that is as effective as these chemicals but its use does not increase discharge levels of chlorides or aluminum, thus making it a better treatment solution for controlling phosphorus and H₂S levels.
The Environmental Impact of Phosphorus in Wastewater
We would be remiss to exclude information on the environmental impact of excessive levels of phosphorus in wastewater. Excess phosphorus in wastewater leads to eutrophication, causing algae blooms which severely degrade water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
Common wastewater treatment chemicals such as ferric and alum – when used in high volumes – exacerbate environmental harm through chemical runoff and high chloride and aluminum levels.
Green Steel PSR™ is a Welcomed Solution by Numerous Industries
Biogas/RNG producers can substantially reduce gas cleanup costs by sequestering sulfur in their digesters -- before it converts to H₂S.
Municipal wastewater treatment plants can now reduce dependence and spend on chemical treatment for phosphorus and H₂S control while driving down operational costs attributed to corrosion and scaling.
Dairy farms and producers can move away from chemical treatment to an upcycled solution that aligns with the industry's sustainability goals.
Food processing plants can enhance their sustainable wastewater treatment processes while improving their bottom line.
Pulp and paper mills can reduce dependence and spend on chemicals for phosphorus and H₂S control while improving workplace safety and their environmental footprint.
Breweries and distilleries can reduce wastewater treatment costs, control odors and scaling, improve regulatory compliance, and advance sustainability goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Steel PSR™
What makes Green Steel PSR™ safer than conventional treatment chemicals?
Unlike ferric and alum, Green Steel PSR™ is non-hazardous, significantly reducing workplace risks, storage complexities, and environmental liabilities.
How quickly will we see results from using Green Steel PSR™?
Green Steel PSR™ requires only a few hours of contact time to start working. Within two days, it will sequester 80% of phosphorus, and sulfur to an undetectable level – before it converts to H₂S.
How does Green Steel PSR™ improve our plant’s operational performance?
Green Steel PSR™ mitigates infrastructure corrosion, reduces H₂S scrubbing requirements, inhibits struvite formation, raises pH balance, and can accelerate biosolids dewatering.
Does switching to Green Steel PSR™ require a significant CapEx investment?
No, it requires a relatively low CapEx investment for the delivery system.
Is there a performance guarantee for Green Steel PSR?
Yes, it’s a low-risk implementation. In the unlikely event you decide to switch back to your existing chemical treatment process, our buy-back program guarantees your satisfaction by committing to you that we will buy back the inventory of Green Steel PSR™ you purchased as well as our delivery system.
Will Green Steel PSR™ help meet stringent regulatory requirements for phosphorus discharge limits?
Absolutely, Green Steel PSR™ effectively achieves regulatory requirements for phosphorus discharge limits.
Is Green Steel PSR™ environmentally friendly?
Yes, Green Steel PSR™ is actually environmentally beneficial by significantly reducing harmful chemical discharge, thus protecting aquatic ecosystems and promoting sustainability.
Does Green Steel PSR™ affect wastewater pH levels?
Green Steel PSR™ acts as a natural pH buffer, reducing the need and cost of chemical amendments for pH management.
Can Green Steel PSR™ help prevent struvite and vivianite formation?
Yes, Green Steel PSR™ becomes the sacrificial nucleation surface, so scaling takes place on the particle rather than on the interior of digesters and associated infrastructure.
What happens to phosphorus sequestered by Green Steel PSR™?
Phosphorus sequestered by Green Steel PSR™ settles into biosolids, which can be managed using existing SOPs. It can be safely land applied; it passes the 503, TCLP, and WET tests.
Is Green Steel PSR™ cost-effective compared to conventional chemical solutions?
Yes, Green Steel PSR™ is less expensive, reducing both chemical costs and O&M costs associated with such chemicals.