Testing Of A New Media In Bio-Trickling Filter At The Hyperion Treatment Plant

To treat odors associated with two of the City's largest interceptor sewer systems the City of Los Angeles has been testing various odor control strategies for several years in order to develop the most cost-effective approach. The Air Treatment Facilities (ATF's) for the interceptors are located in the public right-of-way and therefore safety concerns played a major role in process selection. After careful evaluation of alternatives, Bio-trickling filters (BTF) were selected as they do not require the use of chemicals.Initial testing at the test facility located at the Hyperion Treatment Plant was conducted on a full-scale, single stage bio-trickling filter followed in series by a bench-scale polishing stage consisting of either a Biofilter or carbon adsorption unit. These test results indicated that at the selected ATF locations the odor levels remaining after first stage treatment were too high for direct atmospheric release and that a polishing stage was required. Furthermore, air modeling indicated that only the use of activated carbon as the polishing stage would reduce odor levels to targeted goals.Based on the information gained from these initial tests, a 2-stage odor control system employing bio-trickling filter technology followed by carbon absorption was selected for the City's ATF's. In an effort to improve the BTF performances, a new media manufactured by Taiwan-based Matala Water Technology has been tested.Under a joint effort between Envirogen Technologies, Inc. and the City of Los Angeles, Matala media was placed inside a BTF manufactured by Envirogen Technology. The installation of this unit, located at the Hyperion Treatment Plant, was completed at the end of May 2008. Testing was performed over the following seven (7) month period. This paper will present the test results of those tests.