Delivering Customized Wastewater Solutions

POTW notification prompts popular sealant manufacturer to look into their Wastewater Treatment

H.B. Fuller is a multi-plant corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota, that produces emulsions used in paint- and glue-based products. Wastewater from producing glue and sealants can contain complex chemicals and total suspended solids (TSS) that can present significant disposal obstacles, including:

• Clogged water lines that can be expensive and time-consuming to fix
• Expensive surcharges from the publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) due to strained resources and inability to treat the facility’s effluent

One of H.B. Fuller’s customers, who had faced similar wastewater treatment issues as the Roseville, CA plant, recommended that the company reach out to MacDermid Envio.

The manufacturer struggled with a poorly designed pretreatment solution

When the local POTW officials informed the company’s Roseville, California plant that it would need to begin treating its wastewater onsite for TSS, H.B. Fuller looked for a solution provider to help.

The plant needed more than a generic solution. The manufacturer initially designed its own custom-made treatment system. However, H.B. Fuller soon realized their solution did not remove BOD and TSS from their wastewater properly. It was a failed investment in a poorly designed pretreatment solution. They needed a partner that could create a solution specifically for their needs and help them eliminate their expensive surcharges.

MacDermid Envio worked with the facility’s experts to create a specific wastewater treatment plan

Although MacDermid Envio had effectively designed and installed a system that eliminated one of H.B. Fuller’s customer’s wastewater and compliance issues, the sealant manufacturer was still skeptical of MacDermid Envio’s ability to provide a solution for their facility. To alleviate the manufacturer’s concerns, MacDermid Envio’s engineers worked closely with H.B. Fuller’s experts to learn everything they could about the:

• Facility
• Operations
• Requirements
• Chemistry

MacDermid Envio worked with H.B. Fuller’s in-house knowledge while providing its own industry experience to develop a customized proposal tailored specifically to the Roseville, CA facility.

Based on treatability studies and analysis, MacDermid Envio noticed the following:

Wastewater Treatability Study Results

• ParameterSurcharge LimitRangeTypical Value
• BOD200 mg/l1,000-3,000 mg/l2,000 mg/l
• TSS1,000 mg/l10,000-80,000 mg/l30,000 mg/l

MacDermid Envio installed a batch treatment system for a flow rate of 20,000 GPD. With this system, the customer also received a customized chemical regiment.

MacDermid Envio positioned itself as more than just a consultant. The wastewater solutions provider went beyond installing the system – its engineers continued working with H.B. Fuller after installing the system because H.B. Fuller understood ongoing support would be necessary.