Impact of Micronutrient Technique (MNT) for biosolids reduction in wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the wastewater treatment industry has faced a recurring issue: an overwhelming amount of biosolid (sludge) yield, high power consumption and foul odour due to its anoxic treatment procedures. Engineers in China and Canada have experimented with a different approach, using facultative anaerobic digestion, called the Micronutrient Technique (MNT). This biochemical technique mixes essential growth elements, namely amino acids, vitamins, purine, pyrimidine and minerals, to create MNT mixtures for the WWTP industries. The specific MNT mixture is based on gas detection on-site, the principle of bacterial anoxic reaction. Dosage with MNT has enhanced bioremediation and degradation of pollutants. In the experiment and case studies, it was found that in typical city and some industrial WWTPs, MNT offered a low-cost alternative with encouraging sludge yield and odour control.