Bowker & Associates, Inc.
Services Qualifications Odor Information
Consulting Engineers
Specialists in Odor Control
& Corrosion Control in Sewer Systems & Wastewater Treatment Plants
TREATING ODORS
A variety of technologies are available to treat
odorous air emitted from wastewater treatment plants, sludge handling
facilities, and industrial processes. The selection of a particular
technology or combination of technologies is dependent on factors such as:
The following table summarizes
common technologies used to treat odorous air.
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SUMMARY OF ODOROUS AIR TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES |
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|
Technique |
Frequency of Use |
Cost Factors |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Packed tower wet scrubbers |
High |
Moderate capital, high O&M cost |
Effective and reliable;
long track record; small footprint |
High chemical
consumption, high O&M |
|
Activated carbon adsorbers |
High |
Cost-effectiveness depends on carbon replacement
or regeneration frequency |
Simple; few moving
parts; effective; several media options |
Applicable to
relatively dilute air streams in order to ensure long carbon life |
|
In-ground biofilters |
High |
Low to moderate
capital; low O&M costs |
Simple; low O&M;
effective; no chemicals |
Large footprint; design
criteria varies; some failures due to short-circuiting, overloading |
|
Pre-engineered biofilters |
High |
Moderate to high
capital; low O&M |
Low O&M, no
chemicals; longer media life and smaller footprint than in-ground systems |
Higher capital costs
than in-ground biofilters |
|
Bioscrubbers,
Biotrickling filters |
Low |
Moderate capital; low
O&M |
Smaller footprint than
biofilters, high H2S loadings possible; little or no chemicals |
Limited track record in
|
|
Thermal oxidizers |
Low |
Very high capital and O&M (energy) costs |
Effective for wide
spectrum of odors and VOCs |
Only economical for
high-strength, difficult to treat air streams |
|
Diffusion into activated sludge basins |
Low |
Economical if use
existing blowers or diffusers |
Simple; low O&M;
effective, reliable |
Potential for corrosion
of blower inlet components; add'l blower cleaning may be required |
|
Odor counteractants |
High |
Operating cost
dependent on chemical usage |
Low capital cost |
Limited odor removal
efficiency (<40%); only applicable for dilute air streams |