ODOR ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY FOR A COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL FACILITY

This paper describes an odor assessment methodology applicable for identification of potential odor sources from a complex industrial facility with multiple sources of air emissions and a wide range of air contaminants. From 1998 to 2002, the methodology has been implemented at a chemical manufacturing facility to identify potential odor sources.Crompton Co. (Crompton) manufactures and supplies approximately 90 organic chemical products and product intermediates for the agricultural, plastics, and rubber industries at its Elmira, Ontario facility. The facility utilizes approximately 75 chemicals, 130 process stacks and 145 buildings and tanks. The facility also contains a wastewater treatment system. The odor assessment methodology assisted Crompton with the successful implementation of over 50 odor reduction projects.The types of sources requiring odor control included process vessels, transfer stations, building fugitives emissions, raw material storage tanks and the wastewater treatment system. Odor emission controls and emission reduction strategies implemented in this program included oxidizers, condensers, scrubbers, balancing lines, tank covers and process modifications.The key topics addressed by this paper include:Regulation of odor emissions in Ontario, Canada;Survey of odor thresholds for 63 compounds;Methods used to estimate air emissions from a complex industrial source;Dispersion modeling using Ontario and USEPA models;Identification of potential odor sources; andControl technologies and management practices implemented to control odor emissions.