title: Investigating the capacity of an activated sludge process to reduce volatile organic compounds and odor emissions.
abstract: The effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) diffusion into activated sludge (AS) on odor and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in offgas were studied over an 8-week period. Most VOCs detected in the offgas of both aeration tanks were aromatic hydrocarbons. The VOC concentrations generally decreased when H2S was introduced to the AS compared with the control, indicating a negative effect of H2S on VOC removal. Two volatile organic sulfur compounds present in the test AS offgas showed an increase followed by a decrease during H2S peak loads. Six VOCs and odor concentration increased during the introduction of an H2S peak; however no correlation was observed between H2S and odor concentration. The increase in odor concentration resulted from the increase in the concentration of six aromatic VOCs, which had their removal slowed down during a 100-ppmv H2S peak. Activated sludge diffusion provides effective H2S removal with minimal affect on odor emissions.
authors.affiliation: School of Water Sciences, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sneath
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stuetz
mesh_terms: D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009812:Odorants / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014835:Volatilization; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012722:Sewage; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide