THE STRUGGLE FOR CLEAN AIR ODOR CONTROL STRATEGIES IN ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi is an Emirate in the United Arab Emirates. Located in an hot, arid area, the local municipality has endured a long battle with trying to combat odors due to septicity in its sewers. Faced with average sewage temperatures of around 32 C, soluble sulfides entering the Mafraq WTW of 35 mg/L on average and long detention times of up to 3 days, and hydrogen sulfide levels of around 2000 mg/l in pump station wet wells, odor generation is almost unstoppable.After many trials of the available options, it was found that the best solution was offered by oxygen injection as well as dosing with a calcium nitrate based compound called Nutriox. A third viable option was wet scrubbing.The Mafraq WTW is currently evaluating single stage scrubbing using a catalyst as the preferred option to control the odor production at the front end of the plant. The Sewerage Projects Committee is also currently privatizing the operation and maintenance of the Pump Station and the Sewerage Treatment Plant.