Identification of Seasonal Variations in Volatile Sulfur Compound Formation and Release from the Secondary Treatment System at a Large Wastewater Treatment Plant

Sekyiamah, Kweku; Kim, Hyunook; McConnell, Laura L.; Torrents, Alba; Ramirez, Mark

doi:10.2175/106143008x304677

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The OdaLog data show that average concentrations are higher in the summer within a given year (July and August 2011) compared to the spring (April 2011). Microbial activity is typically higher in warmer conditions; thus, more protein in wastewater is biodegraded, leading to the increased production of sulfur compounds (Liang, Das, and McClendon, 2003;Sekyiamah et al, 2008). This is consistent with sampling in March 2012 showing lower H 2 S concentrations compared to August 2012 (see Table 3).…”

Section: Sulfide Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Treatment of odor by a seashell biofilter at a wastewater treatment plant

Abraham

Joslyn

Suffet

2015

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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Biofilters are becoming an increasingly popular treatment device for odors and other volatiles found at wastewater treatment plants. A seashell media based biofilter was installed in April 2011 at Lake Wildwood Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Penn Valley, California. It was sampled seasonally to examine its ability to treat odorous compounds found in the air above the anaerobic equalization basin at the front end of the plant and to examine the properties of the biofilter and its recirculating water system. The odor profile method sensory panels found mainly sulfide odors (rotten eggs and rotten vegetable) and some fecal odors. This proved to be a useful guidance tool for selecting the required types of chemical sampling. The predominant odorous compounds found were hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide. These compounds were effectively removed by the biofilter at greater than 99% removal efficiency therein reducing the chemical concentrations to below their odor thresholds. Aldehydes found in the biofilter were below odor thresholds but served as indicators of biological activity. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with sensory detection showed the presence of dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide as well, but barely above their respective odor thresholds. The neutrality of the pH of the recirculating water was variable depending on conditions in the biofilter, but a local neutral pH was found in the shells themselves. Other measurements of the recirculating water indicated that the majority of the bio-activity takes place in the first stage of the biofilter. All measurements performed suggest that this seashell biofilter is successful at removing odors found at Lake Wildwood. This study is an initial examination into the mechanism of the removal of odorous compounds in a seashell biofilter.Implications: This paper presents a thorough examination of a seashell media biofilter, a sustainable treatment technology used to remove reduced sulfide compounds. The durable performance of the seashell biofilter ensures that odors will be adequately controlled, preventing odor nuisance to surrounding residences, which is an emerging problem faced by waste management facilities. The odor profile method technique used in this study can be applied in many situations by waste management facilities and regulatory air management organizations for source tracking in relation to prevention and management of odor complaints, respectively.

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Section: Sulfide Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Treatment of odor by a seashell biofilter at a wastewater treatment plant

Abraham

Joslyn

Suffet

2015

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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“…The model confirms that the secondary west odd blanket is the main variable to promote total reduced sulfur in biosolids after dewatering process (before lime addition), and supports DCWASA's research by Sekyiamah (2005). According to Sekyiamah (2005), Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) concentrations at the bottom of the secondary treatment system are markedly dependent on the sludge blanket levels (SBLs), which means the higher the SBLs the greater the production of VSCs.…”

supporting

confidence: 80%

“…As the correlation analysis shows that the secondary west odd blanket has the strongest correlation with total reduced sulfur, and from the model the sign is positive, it confirms that when the higher blanket level of secondary west odd is present, the more total reduced sulfur is produced (Sekyiamah 2005). According this period includes dummy variable in the model, and it was found that if the blanket level of secondary west odd blanket is higher than 1.8 ft., it promote total reduced sulfur level in biosolids, and the sign of the variable's coefficient is positive.…”

Section: Multiple Regression Analysismentioning

confidence: 57%

“…The example of input data of both process variables and total volatile reduced sulfur can be seen in Correlation for each duration is discussed in Section 4.1.3 to 4.1.5 and summarized in Vilalai (2003), the higher the sludge blanket in the secondary sedimentation tanks, the greater the retention time of the waste activated sludge before removing to the DAF thickeners, and the more potential for promote odor level in biosolids after dewatering. Additionally, the study by Sekyiamah (2005) suggested that concentration of reduced sulfur at the bottom of secondary settling tank strongly correlates with the sludge blanket level or the higher the sludge blanket level the greater reduced sulfur produced. In another recent study, Gabriel, et al (2006) showed that the blanket depth from the day before have the greatest change on the biosolids odor level.…”

Section: Graphical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Sekyiamah (2005), Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) concentrations at the bottom of the secondary treatment system are markedly dependent on the sludge blanket levels (SBLs), which means the higher the SBLs the greater the production of VSCs. In addition, the present model suggests that if the blanket level at the secondary west odd is higher than 1.8 ft, it will promote total reduced sulfur in biosolids, which can be seen from the multiple regression equation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Real-Time Monitoring and Forecasting of Odor After Dewatering in Wastewater Treatment

Janpengpen¹,

Baecher²,

Kim³

et al. 2007

proc water environ fed

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District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) operates an advanced wastewater treatment plant that treats approximately 370 mgd of wastewater and generates over 400,000 wet tons of biosolids each year. The reduction of biosolids odors at the plant before distribution to the field sites is therefore, a high priority. Each unit process of a wastewater treatment plant has the potential to generate odor-causing compounds. Total Reduced Sulfur is one of the main components of the odor-generated by wastewater treatment facilities and is the dewatered solids emissions monitored by this study.Many studies have indicated that odors are generated from the upstream processes and from storage, but this research presents information about the odors arising after dewatering. It demonstrates a statistical model that forecasts which factors are significant contributions to odors and which can be used to forecast biosolids odor. The model indicates that secondary west odd blanket depth is the most significant factor for odor level after dewatering and at the depth more than 1.8 ft will be caused more odors. In addition, this research provides basic information to compare odor after lime addition which is the next phase of research, and this model can assist DCWASA to schedule routes for distribution of biosolids to field sites.

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2010

Wastewater Microbiology

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Identification of Seasonal Variations in Volatile Sulfur Compound Formation and Release from the Secondary Treatment System at a Large Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cited by 19 publications

References 16 publications

Treatment of odor by a seashell biofilter at a wastewater treatment plant

Treatment of odor by a seashell biofilter at a wastewater treatment plant

Real-Time Monitoring and Forecasting of Odor After Dewatering in Wastewater Treatment

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