Hydrogen Sulfide Control in Wastewater Ponds Using Strategic Dosing of Hydrogen Peroxide at Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative

This paper details an effective strategy by which Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC), a preeminent sugar producer in rural Minnesota, in partnership with USP Technologies, controls hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from their ponds in order to comply with a standard of 30 ppb measured at the property line.SMBSC regularly has a surplus volume of water retained due to seasonal discharge of treated water. Since discharge to the receiving stream is only allowed from September through March, the net balance of water received or generated can be greater than the volume allowed for discharge. Water composition and quality can vary greatly from pond to pond as well as throughout the season, with conditions sometimes favorable for sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB’s) proliferation possible. This can lead to H2S emissions that would need to be controlled for compliance with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seasonal limits.Many potentially useful chemical additives are contraindicated for use due to US FDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), Food Grade, and/or Kosher for Passover requirements, since water from some of these ponds can be returned to the factory. USP Technologies developed a method by which an oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) diluted with pond water is distributed rapidly across the surface of the ponds. The goal of this treatment method is to only treat the top few inches of the pond surface to provide rapid control of H2S release through oxidation. With diligent monitoring of water quality parameters and other influencing meteorological conditions, chemical usage can be effectively managed when needed and curtailed while H2S emissions are controlled.