The most critical environmental factors associated with biological treatment include
pH, temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability. In this particular application, the
pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability can be controlled in routine ways. However,
the low temperature of the reclaim solution needing treatment in the winter would likely
result in an unacceptable decrease in performance. As a rule of thumb, the solution
temperature should be above 50 F to support adequate biological growth and treatment.
The need to heat the reclaim solution in a simple and economical manner is a challenge. It
may be possible to use some of the excess heat generated in other processes to raise the
reclaim solution to the desired temperature.