The ACBs of Odor Control

Michael Busch
Sales Manager Represented locally by Water Technology Group Denver, CO

Air Emissions Control

Presentation Outline
Typical Municipal Odors Design Guidelines Detection methods Treatment Options About Biorem

Air Emissions Control

Typical Odors
Compound Smell Solubility soluble insoluble insoluble slight Detection 0.00047 ppm 0.001 ppm 0.001 ppm 0.0005 ppm H2S rotten egg Total Reduced Sulfurs (TRSs): DMS rotten cabbage DMDS sulfide MM rotten cabbage Many, many others!

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), TRS: di-methyl sulfide (DMS), di-methyl di-sulfide (DMDS), methyl mercaptan (MM)

Total Odor Removal Encompasses every odor in airstream, good and/or bad. Process involves collecting samples of untreated & treated air for controlled laboratory sniffing by individuals Dilution Threshold (D/T) = Air samples are diluted with fresh air until 50% of panelists can no longer detect an odor Higher number => More smell Many areas have 1 OU limit at the fence line

Air Emissions Control

Design Guidelines
Equipment selection/sizing variables
o Airflow Rate (CFM) o Air stream contaminants & levels o Source of odors o Available footprint/Location of installation

Air Exchanges
o 3-6 air changes per hour (AC/hr) for un-staffed facilities o 10-12 AC/hr for staffed facilities o Air flow (cfm) = (volume of space x AC/hr) / 60min

Air Emissions Control

Design Guidelines
Pump Stations/Collection System/Headworks

H2S
(Higher)

TRSs
(Lower)

Dewatering/Sludge Handling/Compost stages

H2S
(Lower)

TRSs
(Higher)

Air Emissions Control

Measurement of Odors
Compound H2S TRSs o DMS o DMDS o MM Ammonia Total Odor Method Used OdaLog or Jerome Meter Lab Analysis

Draeger Tubes Odor Panel

Air Emissions Control

Measurement of Odors
Computerized Dispersion Modeling
Accounts for all site specific meteorological, geographical, and neighborhood conditions. Provides a predictable model of expected odors, measured in odor units 1 odor unit (OU) at the fence line or nearest sensitive receptor is the goal.

Air Emissions Control

Biotrickling Filter Odor Model

Air Emissions Control

Biofilter Odor Model

Air Emissions Control

Treatment Options
Collect & Treat Technologies Activated Carbon Chemical Scrubbers Biological Processes

Air Emissions Control

Activated Carbon
Used for water treatment over 2,000 years ago Gained wide acceptance during first world war in gas masks

Air Emissions Control

Activated Carbon
Adsorption - The phenomenon where molecules

adhere to a surface with which they come in contact

Air Emissions Control

Activated Carbon
Bed(s) typically 24-36 deep. Face velocity 40-85 FPM.
>85 FPM will fluidize bed(s) and blow carbon out the exhaust. <40FPM will channel thru bed(s)

Actual contact time reqd for treatment <1s. Media dry-filled through top Fans typically sized at 15 wc Different carbon types for different applications

Air Emissions Control

Activated Carbon
Maintenance Requirements
Carbon is a consumable requiring replacement and disposal, typically every 12 months. Typically involves confined space entry

Fans require routine maintenance

Belts, bearings, etc

Air Emissions Control

Activated Carbon
Pros:
Mature technology Lower capital cost Passive technology Can treat all odors Great as a polisher

Cons:
Consumable media Media Life dependent on airstream make-up Not adaptable Higher HP fan motors Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Designed for high H2S levels, Ammonia Large air flows through small footprint Very poor on TRSs, total odor removal o Actually add chemical smell to discharge Use a water/chemical mixture sprayed over packing to neutralize contaminants

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Single Stage H2S Removal 10 packing Sodium Hypochlorite (12.5% NaOCL) and Sodium Hydroxide (50% NaOH) = 99%+ Efficiency Two Stage H2S Removal 15 total packing 1st Stage (5 packing) NaOH = 75% Efficiency Plus 2nd Stage (10 packing) NaOCL and NaOH = 25%+ Efficiency Total 99%+ Efficiency Single Stage NH3 5 packing Sulphuric Acid (50% H2SO4) = 99%+ Efficiency Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Can be round, square, vertical, horizontal, etc

Vertical, Counter-current

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Can be round, square, vertical, horizontal, etc
Modular Scrubber Lo-Pro type

2nd ChemicalSump

1st Chemical Sump

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers

Packing Lantec Jaeger

Internal Support Structure

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Typical sizes from 1,500CFM & up Face velocity 400-500 FPM. Very small footprint Packing bed depths typically 5, 10, or 15 Packing typically good for 10 years

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Maintenance Requirements Packing must be chemically washed annually Many controls, probes, pumps, etc Chemical feed equipment Fans

Air Emissions Control

Chemical Scrubbers
Pros:
Mature technology 99.99% removal Lower capital cost Lower HP fans Hazardous Chemicals Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance Only good for H2S & NH3

Cons:

Air Emissions Control

Biological
Biological Processes
BioFilter
o o o o o o o o o o Excellent total odor removal H2S treatment <30ppm Many types of bacteria at work Occasional media irrigation Neutral ph Designed for H2S treatment Not effective for total odor removal One bacteria at work (Thiobacillus) Constantly water spray Low ph

BioTrickling Filter (BTF)

No chemicals Naturally occurring bacteria

Air Emissions Control

Biological EBRT
Empty Bed Retention Time
Critical design parameter for biological systems Longer EBRT = Larger system

Air Emissions Control

Organic Biofilter Media

Wood Chips, Compost, Peat Moss, etc

Replaced every 2-3 years

Buried header/lateral piping

10-12 wc dp thru 2-3 media 60-90sec EBRT Very in-efficient Very large Footprint

Air Emissions Control

Next Generation Biofilter Medias

Coated, inorganic Total odor removal No Maintenance 20-30 sec EBRT typical Permanent media 6 bed depth typical <3 dp thru 6 of media

Air Emissions Control

 Biosorbens

Media

XLD Media

Air Emissions Control

Wood-Chip Biofilter
17,000CFM 60 sec EBRT
5,680 ft2 surface area 17,000 ft3 of media 3 bed depth 50HP fan motor reqd Media replaced every 2-3 years

71

80

Slotted Sub Floor Air Emissions Control

Biosorbens Biofilter
1,460 ft2 surface area (75% smaller) 8,750 ft3 of media (50% less) 6 bed depth 25HP fan motor reqd (50% less) Permanent media

17,000CFM 30 sec EBRT

40

38

Slotted Sub Floor Air Emissions Control

XLD Biofilter
960 ft2 surface area (84% smaller) 5,666 ft3 of media (66% less) 6 bed depth 25HP fan motor reqd (50% less) Permanent media

17,000CFM 20 sec EBRT

30

32

Slotted Sub Floor Air Emissions Control

Biological Biotrickling Filter

Designed for >99% removal of H2S EBRTs from 4 sec to 15 sec Synthetic, permanent media No chemicals Secondary effluent ideal make-up water source. If using potable water, nutrients must be added Not good for total odors

Air Emissions Control

Biological Multi-Stage Systems

Problem:
Treating High H2S AND achieve Total Odor Removal

Solution: Combined technologies

2nd Stage - BioFilter

Treatment of remaining odors Neutral ph environment

1st Stage - Biotrickling Filter

Treatment of H2S Low ph environment Remaining foul odors pass through to 2nd stage

Air Emissions Control

Biological
Maintenance Requirements
Recirc pumps Spray Nozzles Fans

Air Emissions Control

Biological
Pros:
Cons:

Proven technology Very low O&M cost Adaptive Good total odor control Lower HP fans

Higher capital cost Needs consistent food source Needs water

Air Emissions Control

Technology Comparison
Technology Capital (Budget) Activated $76,500 Carbon Chem $88,000 Scrubber Biological $139,000 2-stage Annual Operating 10 Year Total Cost $52,800 $604,500

$38,400
$10,500

$472,000
$244,000

Assumptions: 8,500CFM 30 ppm H2S average inlet Air Emissions Control

Conclusion
Important Design Variables:
Airflow required Source of the foul odors Location of equipment Available footprint Treatment objective(s): H2S Total Reduced Sulfurs Total Odors Initial capital cost vs Long term O&M
Air Emissions Control

About Biorem
In business since 1991 Headquartered in Guelph, ON Office/Plant locations in: Victor, NY Beijing, China 40 employees $20MM in sales revenue - 2010 700 Installations worldwide Publicly traded company
Air Emissions Control

Thank You For Attending!

www.biorem.biz www.wtrgroup.com