Articles
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Odor Impact Assessments Based on Dose-Response Relationships and Spatial Analyses of Population Response
Jim Nicell, Paul Henshaw
Abstract
Odor Monitoring at the City of Montreal Waste Water Treatment Plant
Pierre Purenne, Thierry Pagé, Christophe Guy
Abstract
Biofilters and Biotowers for Treating Odors and Volatile Organic Compounds
Chris Easter, Chris Quigley, Jay Witherspoon
Abstract
The Potential of Rockwool Biofilter Media for Odorous Gas Treatment
Anneli Andersson Chan
Abstract
Prototype Testing of Integrated Bio-Scrubber and Carbon System at the Hyperion Treatment Plant
Cyrous A. Gilani, R. Tim Haug, Kenneth R. Redd, Joseph A. Wojslaw
Abstract
New Conception of Dynamic Flux Chambers to Follow Odor Emission from Area Sources
Jean-Michel Guillot, Jean-Claude Roux, Jean-Louis Fanlo, Christian Rognon, Christian Coste, Lionel Pourtier
Abstract
A Case Study and Recent Improvements in Odor Management in Japan
Takaya Higuchi, Masao Ukita, Masahiko Sekine, Tsuyoshi Imai
Abstract
Odor Impact Assessments Based on Dose-Response Relationships and Spatial Analyses of Population Response
Jim Nicell1* and Paul Henshaw2
1 Department of Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics, McGill University
817 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2K6,
2 Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering University of Windsor,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9B 3P4
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Owners of odor-emitting facilities currently lack effective strategies for assessing odorous impacts on communities. The most widely-used method for odor quantification is through estimates of odor concentration at impacted receptors in a community. This approach fails to account for the full range of dilutions over which an odor is experienced, the varied sensitivities of individuals in a population, and odor offensiveness. Therefore, dose-response relationships were developed to express the probability of response and degree of annoyance of a population as functions of odor concentration. Dispersion modeling can be used in conjunction with these relationships to calculate contours of probability of response and annoyance throughout the impacted community under many meteorological conditions. These contours serve as the basis for evaluating parameters that reflect various dimensions of odor impact on individual receptors and throughout the area of the impacted region. Spreadsheet software that was developed to aid in the calculation of these parameters is briefly presented.
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Odor Monitoring at the City of Montreal Waste Water Treatment Plant
Pierre Purenne1, Thierry Pagé2*, Christophe Guy3
1 Waste Water Treatment Plant, Environmental Department, 12001 Maurice Duplessis,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H1C 1V3
2 Odotech Inc., 3333, Queen Mary Rd., Suite 301, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3V 1A2,
3 Chemical Engineering Department, École Polytechnique, University of
Montreal, Montreal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The City of Montreal Waste Water Treatment Plant (the Plant) is located in an urban area and has a treatment capacity of 3 million people-equivalents. The sequence of record-breaking hot summers since 1998 contributed to an increase in the number of odor complaints linked to the Plant. Consequently, various measures were implemented for ever-tighter odor monitoring designed to identify and mitigate odors. A residents’ committee was formed to identify the various odors potentially emitted and allowed to communicate to the Plant. Chemical tracer monitoring campaigns were carried out in conjunction with the residents’ observations, in order to determine the odor-emitting sources. Chemical monitoring of the odor treatment units was implemented in order to optimize their operation. Finally, a system of electronic noses was implemented for continuous monitoring of the main nuisance odor sources. This article describes the means used by the Plant for odor monitoring and the electronic-nose validation results.
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Biofilters and Biotowers for Treating Odors and Volatile Organic Compounds
Chris Easter*, Chris Quigley, Jay Witherspoon
1CH2M Hill Inc., 15010 Conference Center Drive Suite 200, Chantilly, Va. 20151
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Biofilters typically are sized to provide sufficient empty bed residence time (EBRT) for odorous compounds to be absorbed, adsorbed, and biodegraded. EBRTs for odorous compounds found in wastewater collection and treatment systems vary with system type and media. This paper provides information related to odor control design criteria used in sizing and selecting biotechnology-based odor control technologies and performance data obtained from 39 biotechnology-based odor control systems applied in full scale at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the U.S. Performance data are presented for both total odor, in terms of odor concentrations as measured by odor panel analysis, and compound-specific removal efficiencies. Data suggest that biofilter system EBRTs below 45 seconds lose reliability for odor treatment. Biotower systems typically are operated at lower EBRTs ranging of 10 to 30 seconds or even lower.
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The Potential of Rockwool Biofilter Media for Odorous Gas Treatment
Anneli Andersson Chan*
1Division of Sanitary Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Luleå University of Tech-nology, SE - 971 87 Luleå, Sweden.
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Seven different rockwool media were analyzed for their suitability for use in a compact biofilter for odor-ous gas treatment. The examined parameters included flow distribution and pressure drop, media characteristics, and aptness for immobilization of microorganisms. Three rockwool media were used in a pilot-scale biofilter in three different applications with odor problems: at a restaurant (fryer), pulp mill, and wastewater pumping station. Rockwool fiber mats with pre-set structures were preferable to loose rockwool due to their easier handling, improved gas flow distribution, and lower pressure drops. However, some of the hydrophobic mats had low mechanical and chemical stability. A linear relationship between pressure drop and surface loading was established, even at very high gas velocities. Enumeration of the biomass showed a wide range of bacteria able to immobilize and grow in the media. A number of operational problems were identified, as well as possible biological or mass-transfer limitations.
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Prototype Testing of an Integrated Bio-Scrubber and Carbon System at the Hyperion Treatment Plant
Cyrous A. Gilani1*, R. Tim Haug1, Kenneth R. Redd1, Joseph A. Wojslaw2
1City of Los Angeles, Environmental Engineering Division
12000 Vista Del Mar, Pregerson Building Suite 200, Playa Del Rey, California 90293
2Montgomery Watson Harraz
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The City of Los Angeles has been testing various odor control strategies at the Hyperion Treatment Plant to determine the most cost-effective approach to treat odors associated with two of the City’s largest interceptor sewer systems. Test results indicated that the odor levels remaining after first stage treatment were too high for direct atmospheric release at the proposed Air Treatment Facility locations and that a polishing stage would also be needed. Air modeling indicated that only the use of activated carbon as the polishing stage would reduce odor levels to targeted goals. Based on this information, a new system employing bio-trickling filter technology followed by carbon absorption contained in a single package configuration was developed by Biofilter vendor. To evaluate this new system, a test unit was subsequently tested at the Hyperion Treatment Plant. The installation of this unit was completed in February of 2005 followed by 8 months of testing.
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New Conception of Dynamic Flux Chambers to Follow Odor Emission from Area Sources
Jean-Michel Guillot1*, Jean-Claude Roux1, Jean-Louis Fanlo1, Christian Rognon2, Christian Coste2, Lionel Pourtier2
1 Ecole des Mines d’Alès, LGEI, 6 av. de Clavières, F-30319 Alès cedex, France
2 EOG-SA, 70 rue Pierre Duhem, Z.I. Les Milles, F-13856 Aix-en-Provence, France
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Emission of pollutants from area sources is still difficult to measure. The approach based on flux chamber that allows the isolation of a part of the source is retained, in this study, to follow emitted pollutants, their concentration and their odor. Two dynamic chambers (preferred to static chambers) are developed to simulate external wind and are both tested into a wind tunnel for laboratory development and on real sites. This tunnel (9 m long) contains an area source (surface of 0.75 m2) where synthetic solutions or real effluent (industrial wastewater) can be introduced. Two types (I and II) of chambers (tangential and modular, respectively) are tested to measure odor flow emitted by liquid sources. These devices simulate external conditions for low wind velocities and then emission measurements corresponding to these conditions can be carried out. Laboratory studies and applications on industrial sites are given for both types of chambers.
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A Case Study and Recent Improvements in Odor Management in Japan
Takaya Higuchi,* Masao Ukita, Masahiko Sekine, Tsuyoshi Imai
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yamaguchi University
2-16-1, Tokiwadai, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8611 Japan
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Offensive Odor Control Law, enacted in 1971 in Japan, regulates odors based on the concentrations of specified offensive odor substances or an odor index. The City of Ube, a typical industrial city in Japan, has established and implemented a unique system for environmental odor management. The city has concluded an agreement with local factories for environmental preservation and has been conducting on-site inspections of an odor index at odor emission sources. Ube City has also entrusted the monitoring of environmental odors to local citizens living near industrial areas who report results to the city. For appropriate and effective environmental odor management, the measurement of odor is a crucial element. Nationwide interlaboratory comparisons have been conducted in Japan since 2002 using several standard odor samples. Such ongoing programs will encourage olfactometry laboratories to maintain measurement quality and for local authorities to introduce regulatory policies based on olfactometry.
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