THE USE OF LOCALLY GENERATED OXYGEN TO CONTROL FORCE MAIN ODORS

INTRODUCTIONMaintaining sewage in an aerobic condition prevents the generation of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and other odorous compounds. In the past, oxygen gas from liquid oxygen has been injected into sewage force mains to maintain aerobic conditions in those force mains. Oxygen with 90% purity can be produced locally at low cost from compressed air by a pressure swing absorption oxygen generator. This paper is about the use of a pressure swing absorption oxygen generator to maintain aerobic conditions in a force main and the measured effect on dissolved hydrogen sulfide generation. There is little practical experience with pressure swing absorption oxygen generators to maintain aerobic conditions in a force main and thereby prevent the generation of dissolved hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, some of the mistakes that were made are described, so that others can avoid them.