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OF CONCERN: odor compounds
may also need to worry about toxic volatile organic compound (VOC) emission (such
as chlorinated solvents; for example, trichloroethene TCE)
Note that there are numerical standards for allowable concentrations of hazardous air
pollutants, while there are no such limits for odor compounds. In many cases, analytic
methods to detect odorcausing compounds may not be as sensitive as the human nose to low
concentrations. In addition, odor compounds are generally not hazardous to human health,
but are simply a nuisance. Therefore, odor control requirements are largely a function of
public acceptability. If a wastewater treatment plant is located far away from most residents,
odor gases at the site are not a problem. However, if neighbors living nearby complain of
odors, then mitigation methods are needed. Therefore, in the long run it may be more cost
effective for a wastewater utility to purchase surrounding land to serve as a buffer zone rather
than let residential areas crowd the property boundary.
Specific chemicals which have objectionable odors:
Inorganics such as hydrogen sulfide (found in the highest concentrations at WWTPs)
and ammonia are the most problematic
Organic compounds containing sulfur or nitrogen are also a problem: amines,
mercaptans, indole, skatole, organic acids, organic sulfides
A summary of some of the major odor causing chemicals is provided in the table below. The
Henry’s constant is a measurement of the relative affinity of the compound for the vapor
phase versus liquid (at equilibrium, the concentration in air divided by the concentration in
water). The concentrations listed are in parts per million (by volume) where half the
population can detect the specific smell. Note how LOW these concentrations are for many
of the compounds!
Compound Chemical Henrys Characteristic Odor Minimum concentration
formula const @ that 50% of an odor
25°C, panel could smell, ppm
L/L
Ammonia NH3 0.013 sharp, pungent 0.037
Amyl Mercaptan unpleasant, putrid 0.0003
crotyl mercaptan skunklike 0.000029
Dimethylamine C2H7N 0.006 putrid, fishy 0.047
Dimethyl sulfide (CH3)2S 0.074 decaying vegetables 0.001
Hydrogen sulfide H2S 0.385 rotten eggs 0.00047
Indole C8H7N 0.0057 fecal, nauseating ND
Methyl mercaptan CH3S 0.132 decaying cabbage 0.0011
Skatole C9H9N 0.0547 fecal, nauseating 0.0012
Thiocresol C7H7OS skunk, rancid 0.0001
Sources of odors:
Raw wastewater that goes “anaerobic” in the sewer lines (consumes all available oxygen)
contains anaerobic bacteria that will transform organic sulfur compounds into hydrogen
sulfide (H2S). This H2S will tend to be dissolved in the water until the sewage liquid is
exposed to turbulence in the inlet junction box or lift pumps and then the H2S will
volatilize into the air. Typical sewer offgas contains 0.115 ppm H2S, and 0.010.05
ppm organic odor compounds.
Anaerobic biological treatment processes may also result in the formation of H2S
Scum floating on the surface of primary settling tanks
Biosolids drying or dissolved air flotation thickening
Aerobic thermophilic sludge digestion, largely ammonia
Options:
1. place covers on unit processes such as primary & secondary clarifiers, trickling filters,...
these can be structural fabric, aluminum, etc.
Cover costs generally range from $12$80 per ft2 surface area depending on type
fixed roof cover for primary clarifiers $12/ft2 in Orange County, CA
fixed cover costs generally 1226/ft2
rigid floating covers $42$56/ft2
flexible floating cover $3$7/ft2
air supported structure $5465/m3 to install; operating costs about 250000 kWH/yr
2. “deodorizing misters”
By misting the surface of open tanks, the volatilized odor compounds may dissolve in
the mist of air and return to the liquid. The misters may also contain “odor masking”
compounds. Many companies have worked to develop chemical mixtures that are specifically
designed to neutralize and/or mask odors from wastewater treatment plants.
3. preoxidation of odor compounds
One way to minimize odors through the wastewater plant is to add chemicals that will react
with the odor causing compounds. For example, chlorine can be added at the head of the
plant to preoxidize > but this may result in THMs & other volatile organic chlorinated
compounds that are a health hazard risk volatilizing out later in the plant (such as
chloroform). Alternatively, the addition of FeCl3 (a common coagulant that may be present
in sludge from drinking water treatment plants) may also serve to reduce odor emissions
through the plant.
Treatment of odor gases:
1. dry activated carbon adsorption
nonimpregnated carbon
causticimpregnated carbon (~5% by weight KOH, NaOH, Na2CO3)
nonimpregnated carbon with ammonia addition
general bed depths 16 ft, 250 cfm air/ft2
convey contaminated gases to the bed: due to corrosive nature use plastic or fiberglass
pipes
regenerate carbon onsite or send for offsite thermal regeneration
humidity in gases reduces sorption capacity
cost estimates (73 GAC suppliers in US, about 6 sell complete systems)
10,000 scfm flow and 100 ppmv inlet conc, capital cost $475K, O&M
$250K/yr
250cfm flow capital $20K and O&M $148K
carbon adsorption
removal efficiency can be high for low concs if low
velocity flow
operational problems humidity >80% results in lost
sorption capacity;
experience at POTWs for odor control; industry for 50yrs
complexity low, unless monitor breakthru &
regenerate onsite
cross media impacts high disposal or regeneration cost
2. wet scrubbers with oxidants (hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, ozone, potassium
permanganate)
may use spray chambers (usu. 5075’ tall, 200 cfm air/ft2)
or packed towers (17’ packing, 30’ total height, ~300 cfm air/ft2)
high chemical cost, difficult maintenance & frequent operation attention needed,
safety hazards of chemicals
cost about $0.70 / 10,000 cfm
3. thermal
flares lowcost, use for gases containing combustible components such as methane,
hydrogen, CO; need enough heating value in the gas for selfsustaining burn otherwise need
to add supplemental fuel (as would be the case in most WWTP offgases)
catalytic oxidation waste gas contacts catalyst bed to allow rapid reactions at 700900°F.
catalyst usually noble metal such as platinum or oxides of Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Co. S
compounds deactivate certain types of catalyst materials; life of catalyst 25 yrs; not common
in WWTPs; capital cost for 250 cfm system of $55K and O&M of $20K/yr
thermal incinerators (aka thermal oxidizers) use supplemental fuel (usually natural gas) to
burn contaminated gas, temps 8001500°F, use some form of heat recovery, large space
required (300 x 300 ft of land), need scrubber to clean gas of NOx, SOx, and acid gases
4. biological treatment methods: biofilters, biotrickling filters, activated sludge tanks
Biofilters: packed bed of media on which the biomass grows
humidify inlet air or sprinkle the top of the bed to maintain moisture
packing media is soil, peat, compost, wood chips (provide nutrients); generally replace
media every 6 mo to 3 yrs
need to maintain pH, since biodegradation of H2S & ammonia produces acidic conditions
optimum temperature 3037°C, range 1042°C; biofilters generate heat from microbial
activity which can allow odor control even with below freezing air temperatures
commonly 35 ft deep, 310 cfm air/ft2, 60 sec gas residence time, 4080% porosity
low energy costs compared to other methods; only enough power to overcome 23” head
loss
cost: 10,000 cfm H2S 20 ppm in & <1 ppm out; $97.3K capital, $7.9K/yr O&M (1990)
cost: $0.10 / 10,000 cfm ; capital for 250cfm system $34K, $7200 /yr O&M
cost: capital $17$69 / cfm for a 25Kcfm system, $10$40 / cfm for a 75Kcfm system
Biotrickling filters:
plastic media support, upflow air, recirculate some liquid with nutrients
1.14 cfm air/ft2, 24’ deep
Activated sludge treatment
use the odorous air from the headworks building as the inlet air fed into activated sludge
tanks (such as in the Los Angeles Hyperion treatment plant)
used for over 30yrs at WWTPs; used at over 25 plants in U.S.
used in Japan where there is an “Offensive Odor Control Law”
should use nonferrous piping and diffusers (probably coarse bubble) to prevent corrosion
& fouling
perhaps should use stainless steel dry filter fittings & flowmeters; have observed corrosion
problems with aluminum & steel guide vanes on the blower
no indication that odor air into activated sludge tanks increased problems with filamentous
bacteria
general aeration rate of 0.25 to 0.5 m2/1000 m3/d;
aeration rate 3.5K cfm for a 5MGD conventional plant; could treat air from the influent
channels, aerated grit chamber, primary effluent launders, gravity thickener, bet
presses, and sludge holding tanks
no increase in odor over the activated sludge tanks when using odorous gases
longest experience at the Hyperion WWTP in Los Angeles, which installed odor treatment
from headworks, primary clarifiers, DAF thickeners, and effluent pump station in their
activated sludge basins in 1959. Since then, they have cleaned the blower twice,
reported no corrosion of fine bubble diffusers, and estimate odor removal at 9699%
lab studies found removal of odor compounds to below detection limits of 0.1 ppm in an
activated sludge reactor of 2 to 4.2 ft depth; nitrification occurred in the reactor
if need activated sludge tanks for ww tmt, no additional capital costs other than selection
of proper materials to resist potential corrosion
References:
Ando, S. 1980. Odor Control of Wastewater Treatment Plants. Journal WPCF. 52(5): 906
13.
Bowker & Associates. 1996. Biological Odor Control by Diffusion into Activated Sludge
Basins. NEWEA Journal. 30(2): 137146.
Environmental Technology. 1988. 8(5): 1819. Morris & Lecky. Controlling Wastewater
Treatment Plant Odors in a Resort Community.
Environmental Protection. Feb. 1998.
Romain, M. 1996. “Biotreatment of OdorContaining Gases from Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Plants.” Masters Thesis, University of Washington.
Bishop, Witherspoon, Card, Chang, Corsi. 1990. VOC Vapor Phase Control Technology.
WPCF Research Foundation.
Torres, Devinny, et al. Biofiltration: Controlling Air Emissions through Innovative
Technology. 1997. WERF.
vanLith, C., G. Leson, and R. Michelsen. 1997. Evaluating Design Options for Biofilters. J.
Air&Waste Mgmt. 47: 3748.
Williams, T. & F. Miller. 1992. Odor Control Using Biofilters. Biocycle. 33 (Oct/Nov):727,
759.