ODOR AND VOC REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT HEADWORKS VENTILATION AIR USING A BIOFILTER

Lab scale experiments and field studies were performed to study the feasibility of biofilters in simultaneously removing H2S and VOCs from POTW offgases. The biofilter was designed with spatially separated removal of pollutants to avoid possible interference: the first section was designated for H2S removal, whilst the second section was designated for VOC removal. The lab-scale experiments demonstrated that the set-up proved reliable in simultaneously removing MTBE, as the model VOC, and H2S. Field studies performed at the Hyperion Treatment Plant showed excellent removal of H2S, moderate removal of non-chlorinated VOCs such as toluene and benzene, and poor removal of chlorinated VOCs. Thus, biofilters offer a distinctive advantage over chemical scrubbers currently employed at POTWs in that they not only remove odor and H2S, but also reduce overall toxicity by partly removing the VOCs.