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

Abstract

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 maymore » 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.« less

Authors:
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  2. County Sanitation Districts of Orange County, Fountain Valley, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
482258
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Progress
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 15; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: PBD: Fal 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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

Citation Formats

Webster, T S, Devinny, J S, Torres, E M, and Basrai, S S. Biofiltration of odors, toxics and volatile organic compounds from publicly owned treatment works. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.1002/ep.670150311.
Webster, T S, Devinny, J S, Torres, E M, & Basrai, S S. Biofiltration of odors, toxics and volatile organic compounds from publicly owned treatment works. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670150311
Webster, T S, Devinny, J S, Torres, E M, and Basrai, S S. 1996. "Biofiltration of odors, toxics and volatile organic compounds from publicly owned treatment works". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670150311.
@article{osti_482258,
title = {Biofiltration of odors, toxics and volatile organic compounds from publicly owned treatment works},
author = {Webster, T S and Devinny, J S and Torres, E M and Basrai, S S},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1002/ep.670150311},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/482258}, journal = {Environmental Progress},
number = 3,
volume = 15,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}