Industrial WW Discharge Permit Renewal - Messer, LLC

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PERMIT BRIEFING MEMO 1. Facility Description Messer LLC processes crude carbon dioxide from a neighboring industry to produce food quality carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide comes from a feed gas line from the neighboring industry. The carbon dioxide is filtered and sent to a separator that helps remove the moisture. Then the carbon dioxide is chilled with ammonia and then sent to another separator that removes large water droplets in solution. The carbon dioxide is then compressed from 2 pounds per square inch to 60 pounds per sqaure inch. The solution is then cooled with cooling water. A third separator removes moisture in the carbon dioxide and then is compressed to 300 pounds per square inch. The carbon dioxide then travels through a zinc oxide bed to remove the hyrdogen sulfide that may be present. The carbon dioxide is cooled through the water cooler and is sent back through the scrubber. The scrubber removes the impurities in the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is now at 320 pounds per square inch coming from the scrubber. The carbon dioxide is then refined to its finished product where it is stored until delivery to the customer. 2. Discharge description: Discharge is total facility flow (Condensation, Scrubber, Cooling Tower Blow down and Sanitary). From December 2022 to November 2023 Average Daily Flow: 37,941 gallons Maximum Daily Flow: 67,918 gallons 3. Sample Site Description Sample Site Outfall #900 is located outside at the southwest corner of the facility inside the facilities fence in a controlled manhole. The sampler is set up next to the manhole and is locked up. A 24 hour composite sample is collected in this manhole of Messer's total discharge flow. Grab Samples are also collected in this manhole. 4. Wastewater Treatment The pH of the water from the scrubber to the decarbonator is about 5.5- 5.6. The water is then pulled down through the media in the decarbonator as carbon dioxide is pushed up and the pH of the water is increased to 7.2-7.4. The water is then sent to the mixing tank where caustic is added to bring the final pH to 7.5. The effluent which consists of Cooling Tower Blow Down and Srcubber water is then sent through their oil/water separator that is located in the facilties maintenance garage and then mingles with their sanitary and finally is sent to the City of South Bend Sewer System. Wastewater treatment consists of a de-carbonator (which removes Carbon Dioxide) and pH neutralization. There is also an oil/water separator in the vehicle maintenance building. 5. Classification Messer LLC is classified as a Significant Industrial User (SIU) as defined in the South Bend Municipal Code.