Biofiltration of odors, toxics and volatile organic compounds from publicly owned treatment works

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Environmental Progress

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670150311· OSTI ID:482258

Webster, T S; Devinny, J S ^[1]; Torres, E M; Basrai, S S ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
2. County Sanitation Districts of Orange County, Fountain Valley, CA (United States)

Increasing federal and state regulation has made it necessary to apply air pollution control measures at publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Traditional control technologies may not be suitable for treating the low and variable contaminant concentrations often found in POTW off-gases. An alternative control technology, biofiltration, was studied. An experiment using bench- and pilot-scale reactors established optimal operating conditions for a full-scale conceptual design. The waste airstream contained ppmv levels of hydrogen sulfide and ppbv levels of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Granular activated carbon (GAC) and yard waste compost (YWG) were tested as possible biofilter media with and without pH control. The 16-month field study bench reactors achieved 99% removal of hydrogen sulfide, 53 to 98% removal of aromatic hydrocarbons, 37 to 95% removal of aldehydes and ketones, and 0 to 85% removal of chlorinated compounds. The GAC and YWC pilot reactors removed more than 80% and 65% of the total VOCs at 17 second and 70 second empty bed retention times, respectively. The YWC reactors performed poorly at empty bed retention times of 30 and 45 seconds, removing less than 40% of total VOCs. Declining pH had little negative effect on contaminant removal, suggesting costly control measures may not be necessary. Biofiltration appears to be a feasible alternative to traditional control technologies in treating off-gases from POTWs. 13 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 482258
• Journal Information: Environmental Progress, Vol. 15, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Fal 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
ALDEHYDES
KETONES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
OFF-GAS SYSTEMS
ODOR
BIOCONVERSION
FILTRATION
WASTE WATER
POLLUTION REGULATIONS