Distribution and sensorial relevance of volatile organic compounds emitted throughout wastewater biosolids processing

Fisher, Ruth M.; Le-Minh, Nhat; Sivret, Eric C.; Alvarez-Gaitan, Juan Pablo; Moore, Stephen; Stuetz, Richard M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.129

Cited by 32 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results confirm the conclusions that odor emission and nuisance problem is more serious in areas with objects with a much larger and usable surface area, such as a sludge processing and management line [24]. According to other researchers [24,54,55], particularly in the headwork and truck loading part [56], odor intensity in the "sludge area" is between 3 (distinct) and 5 (strong)-similar values were observed in this article. Sulphur, ammonia, and fecal odors indicate microbiological degradation; in the case of dewatered and stored biosolids with high solid content, emissions are affected by upstream digestion, dewatering, and storage [57].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessment of the Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization by Means of the Field Olfactometry Method

Kulig

Szyłak-Szydłowski

2019

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Methodological aspects of odor studies in ex-post analyses for Polish wastewater management facilities were analyzed based on the example of a modernized and enlarged wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Mazovia, in the vicinity of the Warsaw agglomeration. It is a mechanical–biological treatment plant with increased efficiency of biogen removal, using activated sludge in the treatment process, with a maximum hydraulic capacity of 60,000 m3/day. Olfactometric research was carried out by means of a method based on identification and characterization of the odor plume emitted from the examined source. This paper presents the results of odor intensity assessment (in sensory examinations according to a 6-stage scale) and odor concentration measurement (using portable field olfactometers) after the completion of the project, and compares them with similar studies conducted before the commencement of the investment. A total of 10 measurement series were carried out before modernization, and 12 after modernization of the WWTP. Odor concentration and intensity were determined, and the current meteorological situation was assessed at the measurement and observation points (receptors) located within the premises (in total 462 points) and around the WWTP (342 points). In each series of measurements on the windward side of the treatment plant, the background of air pollution with odorous substances was marked. The research showed that air flowing into the area of the sewage treatment plant is clean in terms of odor. During the research, basic sources of odor nuisance were identified, and their impact before and after modernization was characterized. The results presented in radar diagrams show changes in the percentage distribution of frequency of occurrence of individual intensity values at receptor points within and outside the area of the treatment plant. After modernization, a significant decrease in the concentration of odor emitted from the sludge dewatering building and sludge containers was determined. The air-tightness of the sewage channel (covered with concrete slabs and sealed) resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of odor emitted from this source. Waste (in particular, sewage sludge) collected in the emergency waste storage yard was identified as the main source of odor nuisance. The waste, even after modernization, was an emitter of odorous compounds spreading outside the area of the WWTP. Nevertheless, as a result of the investment, the desired effect of reduction of the degree of odor nuisance was achieved.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessment of the Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization by Means of the Field Olfactometry Method

Kulig

Szyłak-Szydłowski

2019

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These are: tetrachlorethylene (average concentration on all sampling points of 2.73 µg/m 3 ), toluene (6.33 µg/m 3 ), m + p-xylene (2.88 µg/m 3 ), limonene (4.36 µg/m 3 ) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS, 0.46 µg/m 3 ). The same compounds are reported in similar studies on odour emissions from civil WWTPs found in bibliography [15], [16].…”

Section: Voc Screening and Soav Calculationsupporting

confidence: 76%

Characterization of Odorous Emissions From a Civil Wastewater Treatment Plant in Italy

Ravina

Panepinto

Estrada

et al. 2019

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The characterization and reduction of odour emissions represents an open debate among the scientific community. Odour nuisances are connected to a large number of substances, mostly detectable at low concentrations. Direct estimation of odour impacts through olfactometry is not always applicable, as this approach requires air sampling and a pool of trained panellists. Measuring the concentration of odorous substances provides support to the characterization of emission sources and the design of odour monitoring systems. Civil wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known sources of odours. The objective of this project is the design and development of an integrated odour emission monitoring system at the Castiglione Torinese WWTP in Italy. In this paper, the preliminary characterization of the emission sources and the odour emitting components are presented. The characterization of the emission sources and tracers was obtained by mean of a number of site inspections and measurement campaigns held between 2017 and 2019. In the last campaign, held in January 2019, chemical odour tracers (H2S, NH3, VOC) and dynamic olfactometry measurements were performed simultaneously. The screening of VOC species through gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer analysis of air samples was also performed. Odour emitting components were ranked in terms of odour activity value (OAV). Results show that VOC is the only group of compounds that is always detectable on the site. NH3 and H2S may, in some cases, be present at considerable concentrations. Results of OAV calculations show that a number of VOCs are detected on the site with a high spatial and temporal frequency. Additional considerations are reported on the site-specific correlation between chemical species and odour measurements. This detailed characterization of the emission sources and tracers results in the design of the final integrated monitoring system, which will be based on continuous measurement of H2S, NH3 and VOC and advanced dispersion modelling.

show abstract

“…1-Propanol was proposed as a potential marker, because the presence of ethanol can result from numerous processes and operations, conducted not only in the wastewater treatment plants. 1-Propanol is one of the most frequently identified alcohols released from the biosolid cakes [24]. 2-Hexanone can be proposed as a potential marker from the ketones’ group.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, differentiation between primary and excess biosolid cakes is possible with benzene. It is worth emphasizing that the papers concerning measurement of the compounds emitted from the wastewater treatment plants show that toluene as well as isomers of xylene are the compounds characteristic for biosolid cake processing [24, 26]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Substantial differences were observed upon comparison of the results of VOCs emission from dewatered biosolid cakes originating from the treatment plants with different systems of water removal. One of them concerned aromatic hydrocarbons content in dewatered biosolid cakes—the cakes dewatered in a mechanical way using the centrifuges were richer in aromatic hydrocarbons than gravitationally dewatered cakes [ 24 ]. Another factors, which can have an influence on emission level of particular compounds from dewatered biosolid cakes, are the parameters of fermentation process (temperature and retention time) and, in the case of cake dewatering, amount of added flocculant, which facilitates separation of solid particles from liquid fraction via participation in aggregates’ formation [ 29 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Complementary use of GCxGC–TOF–MS and statistics for differentiation of variety in biosolid samples

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Distribution and sensorial relevance of volatile organic compounds emitted throughout wastewater biosolids processing

Cited by 32 publications

References 44 publications

Assessment of the Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization by Means of the Field Olfactometry Method

Assessment of the Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization by Means of the Field Olfactometry Method

Characterization of Odorous Emissions From a Civil Wastewater Treatment Plant in Italy

Complementary use of GCxGC–TOF–MS and statistics for differentiation of variety in biosolid samples

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About