Gas Monitoring in Enhanced Denitrification Process Methanol Gas Monitoring for Sewage Treatment Plants

A Methanol (CH3OH/CH4O) based “Enhanced Denitrification” process to reduce Nitrates in effluent is used by over 200 sewage treatment plants in the Northeast. The process prevents algae blooms and Oxygen starvation in Chesapeake Bay and many other waterways in accordance with EPA mandate. 

Methanol is both toxic (200 PPM TLV) and flammable (6% volume LEL). Methanol tanks and flow metering equipment with valves and piping feed the process. Enclosed areas require PPM and LEL monitoring while storage and open areas usually have LEL monitoring only. Sensors are placed between waist and face height, as Methanol is slightly heavier than air. 

A newly released 500 PPM Methanol gas detection sensor incorporates the TLV and IDLH of 250 PPM with default alarms of 50, 100, and 250 PPM. This new Methanol sensor is available for SensAlert and Plus Series Sensors and is FM performance certified.