Application of a New Odour Control Strategy to the Odour Emission Problem of an Oil and Fat Refinery

A new odour management strategy is presented, and applied to an oil and fat refinery. The odour emission problem of this plant has been analysed and the emissions sources have characterized using olfactometry and physico-chemical methods. For the main emissions source, which resulted from the deacidification process, the main odorous key substances (nonenal, hexanal, nonanal) have been identified using the odour-index method. Following the odour management strategy in order to find a sufficient waste gas treatment system, various treatment methods have been tested on the emissions. Starting with simple screening tests, biological and adsorption methods have been evaluated according to their odour reduction efficiency in bench and container scale. Results showed that biofiltration alone and in combination with an activated carbon stage are suitable treatment options, whereas pure adsorption is economically not feasible. For all three treatment options a calculation for a scale up to a full scale plant has been carried out based on experimental data that derived from investigations with the test plants. Finally, cost estimations for the various options have been made.